diff --git a/platform/pc/boot/Makefile b/platform/pc/boot/Makefile
index 21a502253..06732aac2 100644
--- a/platform/pc/boot/Makefile
+++ b/platform/pc/boot/Makefile
@@ -113,11 +113,6 @@ CLEANDIRS+=     $(OBJDIR)/platform/pc $(OBJDIR)/platform $(OBJDIR) $(OBJDIRS-uef
 boot: $(OBJDIR)/boot.img $(OBJDIR)/bootx64.efi
 
 $(OBJDIR)/boot.img: $(OBJDIR)/stage1 $(OBJDIR)/stage2.pad
-ifeq ($(MEMDEBUG),)
-ifeq ($(UBSAN),)
-	$(Q) test `$(SIZE_CMD) $(OBJDIR)/stage2.pad` -le 65536 || ($(ECHO) stage2 exceeds 64KB && exit 1)
-endif
-endif
 	$(call cmd,cat)
 
 $(OBJDIR)/stage1: stage1.s $(OBJDIR)/stage2.pad
diff --git a/platform/pc/boot/stage1.s b/platform/pc/boot/stage1.s
index 0e36f15f0..6eae42423 100644
--- a/platform/pc/boot/stage1.s
+++ b/platform/pc/boot/stage1.s
@@ -21,12 +21,13 @@ init:
 	;; setting a20 allows us to address all of 'extended' memory
 	call seta20
 
+	call readsectors
+
         ;;;  disable 8259
         mov al, 0xff
         out 0xa1, al
         out 0x21, al
 
-        call readsectors
 	call e820
 
 	cli