diff --git a/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/x86_64/mode_transition.s b/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/x86_64/mode_transition.s
index e8ca23d028..25c57e8a65 100644
--- a/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/x86_64/mode_transition.s
+++ b/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/x86_64/mode_transition.s
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@
 	mov $_mt_buffer, %rsp
 	popq %rax
 
-	1: jmp 1b
+	iretq
 
 	/* end of the mode transition code */
 	.global _mt_end