diff --git a/lib/md5.c b/lib/md5.c
index fd53191c7..72b36f352 100644
--- a/lib/md5.c
+++ b/lib/md5.c
@@ -133,8 +133,8 @@ md5_finish_ctx (struct md5_ctx *ctx, void *resbuf)
   memcpy (&ctx->buffer[bytes], fillbuf, pad);
 
   /* Put the 64-bit file length in *bits* at the end of the buffer.  */
-  *(md5_uint32 *) &ctx->buffer[bytes + pad] = SWAP (ctx->total[0] << 3);
-  *(md5_uint32 *) &ctx->buffer[bytes + pad + 4] = SWAP ((ctx->total[1] << 3) |
+  ((md5_uint32 *) ctx->buffer)[bytes + pad] = SWAP (ctx->total[0] << 3);
+  ((md5_uint32 *) ctx->buffer)[bytes + pad + 4] = SWAP ((ctx->total[1] << 3) |
 							(ctx->total[0] >> 29));
 
   /* Process last bytes.  */