diff --git a/vm/cpu-x86.32.S b/vm/cpu-x86.32.S
index b1a3561974..1613579244 100644
--- a/vm/cpu-x86.32.S
+++ b/vm/cpu-x86.32.S
@@ -39,4 +39,15 @@ DEF(void,set_callstack,(F_STACK_FRAME *to, F_STACK_FRAME *from, CELL length, voi
 	add $12,%esp                       /* pop args from the stack */
 	ret                                /* return _with new stack_ */
 
+/* cpu.x86.32 calls this */
+DEF(bool,check_sse2,())
+	push %ebx
+	mov 1,%eax
+	cpuid
+	shr $26,%edx
+	and $1,%edx
+	pop %ebx
+	mov %edx,%eax
+	ret
+
 #include "cpu-x86.S"