diff --git a/puer.c b/puer.c
index e809a51..ca01f2b 100644
--- a/puer.c
+++ b/puer.c
@@ -200,10 +200,15 @@ void finalize_hash(struct hashstate *state, unsigned char hash[32]) {
 	}
 
 	// Add the number of bits, and do one last compression
-	word2bytes(&state->buffer[state->length], state->totalbits>>32);
-	state->length += 4;
-	word2bytes(&state->buffer[state->length], state->totalbits & 0xffffffffUL);
-	state->length += 4;
+	state->buffer[8] = state->totalbits >> 56;
+	state->buffer[9] = state->totalbits >> 48;
+	state->buffer[10] = state->totalbits >> 40;
+	state->buffer[11] = state->totalbits >> 32;
+	state->buffer[12] = state->totalbits >> 24;
+	state->buffer[13] = state->totalbits >> 16;
+	state->buffer[14] = state->totalbits >> 8;
+	state->buffer[15] = state->totalbits;
+	state->length += 8;
 	compress_hash(state);
 
 	// Extract the hash state