diff --git a/boot/bootutil/src/loader.c b/boot/bootutil/src/loader.c
index b3b2059..728c872 100644
--- a/boot/bootutil/src/loader.c
+++ b/boot/bootutil/src/loader.c
@@ -907,7 +907,7 @@
     uint8_t image_index;
 #endif
 
-    TARGET_STATIC uint8_t buf[1024];
+    TARGET_STATIC uint8_t buf[1024] __attribute__((aligned(4)));
 
 #if !defined(MCUBOOT_ENC_IMAGES)
     (void)state;