diff --git a/stage1/memory.s b/stage1/memory.s
index 641c568..29704a2 100644
--- a/stage1/memory.s
+++ b/stage1/memory.s
@@ -247,8 +247,7 @@ release_object:
         lw t0, LISP_OBJECT_REFCOUNT(a0)
         addi t0, t0, -1
         sw t0, LISP_OBJECT_REFCOUNT(a0)
-        bgtz t0, 1f
-        j drop_object
+        blez t0, drop_object
 1:
         mv a0, zero
         ret