diff --git a/basis/cpu/x86/64/bootstrap.factor b/basis/cpu/x86/64/bootstrap.factor
index 8b0d53cda5..28309e7d97 100644
--- a/basis/cpu/x86/64/bootstrap.factor
+++ b/basis/cpu/x86/64/bootstrap.factor
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ IN: bootstrap.x86
 : rex-length ( -- n ) 1 ;
 
 [
+    ! HACK: stash vm pointer above the ds stack
+    temp0 0 MOV rc-absolute-cell rt-vm jit-rel
+    ds-reg bootstrap-cell [+] temp0 MOV 
     ! load stack_chain
     temp0 0 MOV rc-absolute-cell rt-stack-chain jit-rel
     temp0 temp0 [] MOV
diff --git a/vm/primitives.hpp b/vm/primitives.hpp
index 8e6c3b8f51..5eefc19e01 100644
--- a/vm/primitives.hpp
+++ b/vm/primitives.hpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ namespace factor
 
 extern const primitive_type primitives[];
 #define PRIMITIVE_OVERFLOW_GETVM() vm
+
 #define VM_PTR vm
 #define ASSERTVM() 
 }