diff --git a/src/system/linux/alloc.c b/src/system/linux/alloc.c
index 424ef3b..6c16dde 100644
--- a/src/system/linux/alloc.c
+++ b/src/system/linux/alloc.c
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ struct msh_linux_block_t {
   msh_linux_block *prev;
   msh_linux_block *next;
   unsigned char free;
-  char data[1];
 };
 #define MSH_BLOCK_SIZE 21
 
@@ -50,7 +49,7 @@ static msh_linux_block *extend_heap(msh_linux_block *last, SIZE_TYPE size) {
 
 static void split_block(msh_linux_block *b, SIZE_TYPE size) {
   msh_linux_block *new;
-  new = (msh_linux_block *)b->data + size;
+  new = ((msh_linux_block *)&b->free) + size + 1;
   new->size = b->size - size - MSH_BLOCK_SIZE;
   new->next = b->next;
   new->free = 1;
@@ -103,7 +102,7 @@ void *msh_allocate(SIZE_TYPE size) {
     }
     msh_linux_base = b;
   }
-  return b->data;
+  return (&b->free) + 1;
 };
 
 void msh_deallocate(void *ptr) {