diff --git a/stage_2/prelude.s b/stage_2/prelude.s
index d3644e0..bbd2dbe 100644
--- a/stage_2/prelude.s
+++ b/stage_2/prelude.s
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ s2_data:
 .s3_bin_len_sectors:
   dw 0
 .padding:
-  times (S2_DATA_LEN - 4) db 0
+  times (S2_DATA_LEN - 4) db 0xf4
 
 %if ($ - $$) != S2_DATA_LEN
 %error "incorrect prelude data size"