diff --git a/src/pkg/runtime/linux/386/rt0.s b/src/pkg/runtime/linux/386/rt0.s
index 223e6d2ea4..0f82d6a1c7 100644
--- a/src/pkg/runtime/linux/386/rt0.s
+++ b/src/pkg/runtime/linux/386/rt0.s
@@ -5,5 +5,13 @@
 // Darwin and Linux use the same linkage to main
 
 TEXT _rt0_386_linux(SB),7,$0
+	// Linux starts the FPU in extended double precision.
+	// Other operating systems use double precision.
+	// Change to double precision to match them,
+	// and to match other hardware that only has double.
+	PUSHL $0x27F
+	FLDCW	0(SP)
+	POPL AX
+
 	JMP	_rt0_386(SB)