diff --git a/elfcpp/elfcpp_swap.h b/elfcpp/elfcpp_swap.h
index 5b9a915..cddc0b3 100644
--- a/elfcpp/elfcpp_swap.h
+++ b/elfcpp/elfcpp_swap.h
@@ -234,7 +234,10 @@ struct Swap
 
   static inline void
   writeval(Valtype* wv, Valtype v)
-  { *wv = Convert<size, big_endian>::convert_host(v); }
+  {
+    Valtype T = Convert<size, big_endian>::convert_host(v);
+    memcpy(wv, &T, sizeof(T));
+  }
 
   static inline Valtype
   readval(const unsigned char* wv)