diff --git a/rtl/x86_64/x86_64.inc b/rtl/x86_64/x86_64.inc
index e673502105..6a5947ef07 100644
--- a/rtl/x86_64/x86_64.inc
+++ b/rtl/x86_64/x86_64.inc
@@ -630,6 +630,7 @@ asm
     testq   %r8,%r8
     je      .LCmpbyteZero
 
+    .balign 8
 .LCmpbyteLoop:
     movb    (%rcx),%r9b
     cmpb    (%rdx),%r9b