diff --git a/kernel/core.asm b/kernel/core.asm
index 6ffa452..bf3d8d0 100644
--- a/kernel/core.asm
+++ b/kernel/core.asm
@@ -26,20 +26,21 @@ addDE:
 noop:				; piggy backing on the first "ret" we have
 	ret
 
-; copy (HL) into HL, utilising the optimised HL instructions. The first ld
-; edits the address of the second ld to now be HL.
+; copy (HL) into DE, then exchange the two, utilising the optimised HL instructions. 
+; ld must be done little endian, so least significant byte first.
 intoHL:
-	ld (.load+1), hl
-.load:			
-	ld hl, (.load)		; (.load) is just a placeholder so the
-				; assembler will assemble the correct opcode
+	push de
+	ld e, (hl)
+	inc hl
+	ld d, (hl)
+	ex de, hl
+	pop de
 	ret
 
 intoDE:
 	ex de, hl
 	call intoHL
-	ex de, hl		; de not affected by intoHL, so no push/pop 
-				; is necessary
+	ex de, hl		; de preserved by intoHL, so no push/pop needed
 	ret
 
 intoIX: