diff --git a/src/cryptonote_basic/difficulty.cpp b/src/cryptonote_basic/difficulty.cpp
index ef9466629..cf5a64352 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_basic/difficulty.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_basic/difficulty.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <cassert>
 #include <cstddef>
 #include <cstdint>
+#include <cstring>
 #include <vector>
 
 #include "int-util.h"
@@ -102,18 +103,25 @@ namespace cryptonote {
     return a + b < a || (c && a + b == (uint64_t) -1);
   }
 
+  static inline uint64_t load_u64_from_hash(const crypto::hash &hash, size_t index) {
+    assert(index < sizeof(hash.data) / sizeof(uint64_t));
+    uint64_t word;
+    memcpy(&word, hash.data + index * sizeof(word), sizeof(word));
+    return SWAP64LE(word);
+  }
+
   bool check_hash_64(const crypto::hash &hash, uint64_t difficulty) {
     uint64_t low, high, top, cur;
     // First check the highest word, this will most likely fail for a random hash.
-    mul(swap64le(((const uint64_t *) &hash)[3]), difficulty, top, high);
+    mul(load_u64_from_hash(hash, 3), difficulty, top, high);
     if (high != 0) {
       return false;
     }
-    mul(swap64le(((const uint64_t *) &hash)[0]), difficulty, low, cur);
-    mul(swap64le(((const uint64_t *) &hash)[1]), difficulty, low, high);
+    mul(load_u64_from_hash(hash, 0), difficulty, low, cur);
+    mul(load_u64_from_hash(hash, 1), difficulty, low, high);
     bool carry = cadd(cur, low);
     cur = high;
-    mul(swap64le(((const uint64_t *) &hash)[2]), difficulty, low, high);
+    mul(load_u64_from_hash(hash, 2), difficulty, low, high);
     carry = cadc(cur, low, carry);
     carry = cadc(high, top, carry);
     return !carry;
@@ -171,7 +179,7 @@ namespace cryptonote {
   bool check_hash_128(const crypto::hash &hash, difficulty_type difficulty) {
 #ifndef FORCE_FULL_128_BITS
     // fast check
-    if (difficulty >= max64bit && ((const uint64_t *) &hash)[3] > 0)
+    if (difficulty >= max64bit && load_u64_from_hash(hash, 3) > 0)
       return false;
 #endif
     // usual slow check
@@ -182,7 +190,7 @@ namespace cryptonote {
     for(int i = 1; i < 4; i++) { // highest word is zero
 #endif
       hashVal <<= 64;
-      hashVal |= swap64le(((const uint64_t *) &hash)[3 - i]);
+      hashVal |= load_u64_from_hash(hash, 3 - i);
     }
     return hashVal * difficulty <= max256bit;
   }
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/difficulty.cpp b/tests/unit_tests/difficulty.cpp
index c8e9ceefc..6a01eabc3 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/difficulty.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/difficulty.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@
 // STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF
 // THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
+#include <cstddef>
+#include <cstring>
+
 #include "gtest/gtest.h"
 #include "int-util.h"
 #include "cryptonote_basic/difficulty.h"
@@ -37,6 +40,13 @@ static cryptonote::difficulty_type MKDIFF(uint64_t high, uint64_t low)
   return d;
 }
 
+static void set_hash_word(crypto::hash &hash, std::size_t index, uint64_t value)
+{
+  ASSERT_LT(index, sizeof(hash.data) / sizeof(value));
+  value = SWAP64LE(value);
+  memcpy(hash.data + index * sizeof(value), &value, sizeof(value));
+}
+
 static crypto::hash MKHASH(uint64_t high, uint64_t low)
 {
   cryptonote::difficulty_type hash_target = high;
@@ -45,16 +55,16 @@ static crypto::hash MKHASH(uint64_t high, uint64_t low)
   crypto::hash h;
   uint64_t val;
   val = (hash_value & 0xffffffffffffffff).convert_to<uint64_t>();
-  ((uint64_t*)&h)[0] = SWAP64LE(val);
+  set_hash_word(h, 0, val);
   hash_value >>= 64;
   val = (hash_value & 0xffffffffffffffff).convert_to<uint64_t>();
-  ((uint64_t*)&h)[1] = SWAP64LE(val);
+  set_hash_word(h, 1, val);
   hash_value >>= 64;
   val = (hash_value & 0xffffffffffffffff).convert_to<uint64_t>();
-  ((uint64_t*)&h)[2] = SWAP64LE(val);
+  set_hash_word(h, 2, val);
   hash_value >>= 64;
   val = (hash_value & 0xffffffffffffffff).convert_to<uint64_t>();
-  ((uint64_t*)&h)[3] = SWAP64LE(val);
+  set_hash_word(h, 3, val);
   return h;
 }