diff --git a/crypto/ghash-generic.c b/crypto/ghash-generic.c
index 12ad3e3..73b56f2 100644
--- a/crypto/ghash-generic.c
+++ b/crypto/ghash-generic.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 			const u8 *key, unsigned int keylen)
 {
 	struct ghash_ctx *ctx = crypto_shash_ctx(tfm);
+	be128 k;
 
 	if (keylen != GHASH_BLOCK_SIZE) {
 		crypto_shash_set_flags(tfm, CRYPTO_TFM_RES_BAD_KEY_LEN);
@@ -42,7 +43,12 @@
 
 	if (ctx->gf128)
 		gf128mul_free_4k(ctx->gf128);
-	ctx->gf128 = gf128mul_init_4k_lle((be128 *)key);
+
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(sizeof(k) != GHASH_BLOCK_SIZE);
+	memcpy(&k, key, GHASH_BLOCK_SIZE); /* avoid violating alignment rules */
+	ctx->gf128 = gf128mul_init_4k_lle(&k);
+	memzero_explicit(&k, GHASH_BLOCK_SIZE);
+
 	if (!ctx->gf128)
 		return -ENOMEM;