diff --git a/neon/blake2-impl.h b/neon/blake2-impl.h
index 5dff7fc..c1df82e 100644
--- a/neon/blake2-impl.h
+++ b/neon/blake2-impl.h
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ static BLAKE2_INLINE uint16_t load16( const void *src )
   return w;
 #else
   const uint8_t *p = ( const uint8_t * )src;
-  return (( uint16_t )( p[0] ) <<  0) |
-         (( uint16_t )( p[1] ) <<  8) ;
+  return ( uint16_t )((( uint32_t )( p[0] ) <<  0) |
+                      (( uint32_t )( p[1] ) <<  8));
 #endif
 }