diff --git a/rtl/msdos/prt0comn.asm b/rtl/msdos/prt0comn.asm
index 94bfc7e4d4..de0978113f 100644
--- a/rtl/msdos/prt0comn.asm
+++ b/rtl/msdos/prt0comn.asm
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ not_enough_mem_msg:
 %endif
         ; add reference to the beginning of the minimal heap, so the object
         ; module, containing the heap segment doesn't get smartlinked away
-        dd ___heap
+        dw ___heap
 
         segment bss class=bss align=2