diff -urN 2.2.12/arch/alpha/kernel/setup.c 2.2.12-initrd/arch/alpha/kernel/setup.c
--- 2.2.12/arch/alpha/kernel/setup.c	Thu Aug 26 14:20:16 1999
+++ 2.2.12-initrd/arch/alpha/kernel/setup.c	Sat Sep 18 16:13:45 1999
@@ -261,8 +261,18 @@
 		if (initrd_end > *memory_end_p) {
 			printk("initrd extends beyond end of memory "
 			       "(0x%08lx > 0x%08lx)\ndisabling initrd\n",
-			       initrd_end, (unsigned long) memory_end_p);
+			       initrd_end, *memory_end_p);
 			initrd_start = initrd_end = 0;
+		} else {
+			/* move initrd from the middle of the RAM to the
+			   start of the RAM so we won't risk to rewrite
+			   initrd while allocating the memory at boot time */
+			memmove((char *) *memory_start_p,
+				(char *) initrd_start, INITRD_SIZE);
+			initrd_start = *memory_start_p;
+			initrd_end = initrd_start + INITRD_SIZE;
+			*memory_start_p = PAGE_ALIGN(initrd_end);
+			initrd_below_start_ok = 1;
 		}
 	}
 #endif