diff --git a/console.h b/console.h
index cac959f..ddd1bbf 100644
--- a/console.h
+++ b/console.h
@@ -326,9 +326,11 @@ static inline int ds_get_bytes_per_pixel(DisplayState *ds)
 typedef unsigned long console_ch_t;
 static inline void console_write_ch(console_ch_t *dest, uint32_t ch)
 {
+    uint32_t p;
     if (!(ch & 0xff))
         ch |= ' ';
-    cpu_to_le32wu((uint32_t *) dest, ch);
+    cpu_to_le32wu(&p, ch);
+    *dest = p;
 }
 
 typedef void (*vga_hw_update_ptr)(void *);