diff --git a/src/memory.c b/src/memory.c
index c1c6614..c0d7c3f 100644
--- a/src/memory.c
+++ b/src/memory.c
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ Instruction decodeInstruction(Memory* m, uint32_t* pc) {
             case OP_IMM16: { // the immediate 16 takes up the space where the next instruction would be
                 (*pc) += sizeof(SerializedInst);
 
-                uint16_t nextDataOver = m->data[*pc];
+                uint16_t nextDataOver;
+                memcpy(&nextDataOver, &m->data[*pc], sizeof(uint16_t));
                 outputInst.immediate = nextDataOver;
                 outputInst.hasImm16 = true;
                 break;
@@ -109,4 +110,4 @@ void freeMemory(Memory* m) {
 
 inline uint32_t getAddress(uint16_t low, uint16_t high) {
     return (high << 16) | low;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}