diff --git a/kernel/boot/k_bootstrap.cc b/kernel/boot/k_bootstrap.cc
index 75f35b8..a405229 100644
--- a/kernel/boot/k_bootstrap.cc
+++ b/kernel/boot/k_bootstrap.cc
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "hos_types.h"
 #include "hos_defines.h"
 #include "multiboot.h"
+#include "sys/cpu.h"
 #include "k_early_panic.h"
 #include "mm/mm.h"
 #include "lang/kio.h"
@@ -63,10 +64,8 @@ void k_bootstrap(mb_info_t * mb_info, u32_t mb_magic)
     kio_bootstrap();
     DEBUG_LETTER(5, 'f');
 
-    __asm__ __volatile__ ("mov $0xF0000000, %%esp;"
-            : /* no outputs */
-            : /* no inputs */
-            : /* no clobbers */);
+    /* begin using the permanent stack */
+    write_esp(KERNEL_STACK_TOP);
     k_main();
 
     idle_loop();
diff --git a/kernel/include/hos_defines.h b/kernel/include/hos_defines.h
index d1231b8..5cd9ea4 100644
--- a/kernel/include/hos_defines.h
+++ b/kernel/include/hos_defines.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ extern  u8_t    _end;
 #define KERNEL_VIRTUAL_ADDRESS  ((u32_t)KERNEL_CODE)
 #define KERNEL_SIZE             ((u32_t)(KERNEL_END - KERNEL_CODE))
 
-#define KERNEL_STACK_TOP        0xF0000000
+#define KERNEL_STACK_TOP        0x40000000
 
 #define KERNEL_TIMER_FREQ       1000
 
diff --git a/kernel/sys/cpu.h b/kernel/sys/cpu.h
index d30f3a7..1f9ff4b 100644
--- a/kernel/sys/cpu.h
+++ b/kernel/sys/cpu.h
@@ -34,4 +34,7 @@ static u32_t read_cr3()
 #define write_cr3(val) \
     __asm__ __volatile__ ("movl %0, %%cr3" : : "r" (val));
 
+#define write_esp(val) \
+    __asm__ __volatile__ ("movl %0, %%esp" : : "r" (val));
+
 #endif