diff --git a/asm/binary.rb b/asm/binary.rb
index 29dbb3e..945f95c 100644
--- a/asm/binary.rb
+++ b/asm/binary.rb
@@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ module Assembler
     end
 
 
-    # TODO remove this, LOOP sucks ... only accepts a 1-byte signed offset.
+    # NOTE: LOOP only accepts a 1-byte signed offset.  Don't use it.
     def loop_(label)
       real_eip = @eip + 2 # loop instruction is 2 bytes
       delta = @symtab.lookup_label(label) - real_eip
diff --git a/compiler.rb b/compiler.rb
index 08f110a..0b372cd 100644
--- a/compiler.rb
+++ b/compiler.rb
@@ -547,7 +547,8 @@ class Compiler
     asm.pop(ECX)
 
     match_word('end')
-    asm.loop_(start_label)
+    asm.dec(ECX)
+    asm.jnz(start_label)
 
     # Phony push!  break needs to clean up the stack, but since we
     # don't know if there is a break at this point we fake a push and