diff --git a/src/system/runtime_loader/arch/x86/arch_call_init_term.c b/src/system/runtime_loader/arch/x86/arch_call_init_term.c
index e0844804d2..e92fcf6a08 100644
--- a/src/system/runtime_loader/arch/x86/arch_call_init_term.c
+++ b/src/system/runtime_loader/arch/x86/arch_call_init_term.c
@@ -17,13 +17,21 @@ arch_call_init(image_t *image)
 	// This calls the init code in crti.S (in glue/arch/x86/)
 	// It would have been too easy to just call this function with its arguments
 	// on the stack, so Be went the ugly way. Once more.
-	asm("mov %0, %%ebx; call *%1" : : "g"(image->id), "g"(image->init_routine));
+	asm("push	%%ebx;"
+		"mov	%0, %%ebx;"
+		"call	*%1;"
+		"pop	%%ebx"
+		: : "g"(image->id), "g"(image->init_routine));
 }
 
 
 void
 arch_call_term(image_t *image)
 {
-	asm("mov %0, %%ebx; call *%1" : : "g"(image->id), "g"(image->term_routine));
+	asm("push	%%ebx;"
+		"mov	%0, %%ebx;"
+		"call	*%1;"
+		"pop	%%ebx"
+		: : "g"(image->id), "g"(image->term_routine));
 }