diff --git a/lib/std/start.zig b/lib/std/start.zig
index 261b355c34..89f5eb0b1f 100644
--- a/lib/std/start.zig
+++ b/lib/std/start.zig
@@ -198,13 +198,16 @@ fn _start() callconv(.Naked) noreturn {
             );
         },
         .powerpc => {
+            // Setup the initial stack frame and clear the back chain pointer.
             argc_argv_ptr = asm volatile (
-                \\ mr 3, 1
+                \\ mr 4, 1
                 \\ li 0, 0
+                \\ stwu 1,-16(1)
+                \\ stw 0, 0(1)
                 \\ mtlr 0
-                : [argc] "={r3}" (-> [*]usize)
+                : [argc] "={r4}" (-> [*]usize)
                 :
-                : "r0", "r3"
+                : "r0"
             );
         },
         .powerpc64le => {