diff --git a/arch/x86/boot/compressed/head_64.S b/arch/x86/boot/compressed/head_64.S
index 37c741b0d2ac..4f40cddd025d 100644
--- a/arch/x86/boot/compressed/head_64.S
+++ b/arch/x86/boot/compressed/head_64.S
@@ -113,7 +113,8 @@ ENTRY(startup_32)
 	lgdt	gdt(%ebp)
 
 	/* Enable PAE mode */
-	movl	$(X86_CR4_PAE), %eax
+	movl	%cr4, %eax
+	orl	$X86_CR4_PAE, %eax
 	movl	%eax, %cr4
 
  /*