diff --git a/include/hermit/config.h b/include/hermit/config.h
index 6e0c086c3..2e103436f 100644
--- a/include/hermit/config.h
+++ b/include/hermit/config.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #define CACHE_LINE		64
 #define KERNEL_STACK_SIZE	(8*1024)
 #define DEFAULT_STACK_SIZE	(256*1024)
-#define HEAP_START		(1ULL << 48 - 0x2000)
+#define HEAP_START		(1ULL << 34)
 #define KMSG_SIZE		(4*1024)
 #define INT_SYSCALL		0x80
 #define MAILBOX_SIZE		128