diff --git a/asm/math.s b/asm/math.s
index d67a89d3..d1188cc1 100644
--- a/asm/math.s
+++ b/asm/math.s
@@ -12,10 +12,12 @@ glabel mtxf_to_mtx_asm
     li.s $f8, 1.0
     li $v0, 1
     li.s $f4, 65536.0
+    # flags will never update in this loop, so do the compare only once
+    # if this ever breaks contact someone2639, and then maybe MIPS Technologies, Inc.
+    c.eq.s $f6, $f8
 1:
     lwc1 $f0, ($a1)
     lwc1 $f2, 0x04($a1)
-    c.eq.s $f6, $f8
     bc1f 3f
     nop
 2: