diff --git a/targets/riscv.ld b/targets/riscv.ld
index 2b9f5027..eecac6b4 100644
--- a/targets/riscv.ld
+++ b/targets/riscv.ld
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ SECTIONS
 }
 
 /* For the memory allocator. */
-_heap_start = _ebss;
+_heap_start = ALIGN(_ebss, 16);
 _heap_end = ORIGIN(RAM) + LENGTH(RAM);
 _globals_start = _sdata;
 _globals_end = _ebss;