diff --git a/cpu-exec.c b/cpu-exec.c
index 026980a552..525b3b45ee 100644
--- a/cpu-exec.c
+++ b/cpu-exec.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "disas.h"
 #include "tcg.h"
 #include "kvm.h"
+#include "qemu-barrier.h"
 
 #if !defined(CONFIG_SOFTMMU)
 #undef EAX
@@ -233,7 +234,7 @@ int cpu_exec(CPUState *env1)
        use it.  */
     QEMU_BUILD_BUG_ON (sizeof (saved_env_reg) != sizeof (env));
     saved_env_reg = (host_reg_t) env;
-    asm("");
+    barrier();
     env = env1;
 
     if (exit_request) {
@@ -669,7 +670,7 @@ int cpu_exec(CPUState *env1)
 #endif
 
     /* restore global registers */
-    asm("");
+    barrier();
     env = (void *) saved_env_reg;
 
     /* fail safe : never use cpu_single_env outside cpu_exec() */
diff --git a/qemu-barrier.h b/qemu-barrier.h
index 3bd1075d66..b77fce23a9 100644
--- a/qemu-barrier.h
+++ b/qemu-barrier.h
@@ -4,4 +4,7 @@
 /* FIXME: arch dependant, x86 version */
 #define smp_wmb()   asm volatile("" ::: "memory")
 
+/* Compiler barrier */
+#define barrier()   asm volatile("" ::: "memory")
+
 #endif