diff --git a/arch/alpha/kernel/Makefile b/arch/alpha/kernel/Makefile
index a427538252f8..7739a62440a7 100644
--- a/arch/alpha/kernel/Makefile
+++ b/arch/alpha/kernel/Makefile
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ EXTRA_CFLAGS	:= -Werror -Wno-sign-compare
 
 obj-y    := entry.o traps.o process.o init_task.o osf_sys.o irq.o \
 	    irq_alpha.o signal.o setup.o ptrace.o time.o \
-	    alpha_ksyms.o systbls.o err_common.o io.o binfmt_loader.o
+	    alpha_ksyms.o systbls.o err_common.o io.o
 
 obj-$(CONFIG_VGA_HOSE)	+= console.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_SMP)	+= smp.o
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ else
 # Misc support
 obj-$(CONFIG_ALPHA_SRM)		+= srmcons.o
 
+ifdef CONFIG_BINFMT_AOUT
+obj-y	+= binfmt_loader.o
+endif
+
 # Core logic support
 obj-$(CONFIG_ALPHA_APECS)	+= core_apecs.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_ALPHA_CIA)		+= core_cia.o
diff --git a/arch/alpha/kernel/binfmt_loader.c b/arch/alpha/kernel/binfmt_loader.c
index 4a0af906b00a..3fcfad410130 100644
--- a/arch/alpha/kernel/binfmt_loader.c
+++ b/arch/alpha/kernel/binfmt_loader.c
@@ -46,6 +46,6 @@ static struct linux_binfmt loader_format = {
 
 static int __init init_loader_binfmt(void)
 {
-	return register_binfmt(&loader_format);
+	return insert_binfmt(&loader_format);
 }
 arch_initcall(init_loader_binfmt);
diff --git a/fs/exec.c b/fs/exec.c
index a3a8ce83940f..639177b0eeac 100644
--- a/fs/exec.c
+++ b/fs/exec.c
@@ -69,17 +69,18 @@ int suid_dumpable = 0;
 static LIST_HEAD(formats);
 static DEFINE_RWLOCK(binfmt_lock);
 
-int register_binfmt(struct linux_binfmt * fmt)
+int __register_binfmt(struct linux_binfmt * fmt, int insert)
 {
 	if (!fmt)
 		return -EINVAL;
 	write_lock(&binfmt_lock);
-	list_add(&fmt->lh, &formats);
+	insert ? list_add(&fmt->lh, &formats) :
+		 list_add_tail(&fmt->lh, &formats);
 	write_unlock(&binfmt_lock);
 	return 0;	
 }
 
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(register_binfmt);
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(__register_binfmt);
 
 void unregister_binfmt(struct linux_binfmt * fmt)
 {
diff --git a/include/linux/binfmts.h b/include/linux/binfmts.h
index 6638b8148de7..61ee18c1bdb4 100644
--- a/include/linux/binfmts.h
+++ b/include/linux/binfmts.h
@@ -82,7 +82,19 @@ struct linux_binfmt {
 	int hasvdso;
 };
 
-extern int register_binfmt(struct linux_binfmt *);
+extern int __register_binfmt(struct linux_binfmt *fmt, int insert);
+
+/* Registration of default binfmt handlers */
+static inline int register_binfmt(struct linux_binfmt *fmt)
+{
+	return __register_binfmt(fmt, 0);
+}
+/* Same as above, but adds a new binfmt at the top of the list */
+static inline int insert_binfmt(struct linux_binfmt *fmt)
+{
+	return __register_binfmt(fmt, 1);
+}
+
 extern void unregister_binfmt(struct linux_binfmt *);
 
 extern int prepare_binprm(struct linux_binprm *);