diff --git a/arch/x86/tools/mcreboot-smp-x86.sh.in b/arch/x86/tools/mcreboot-smp-x86.sh.in
index b6253a30..56438fb1 100644
--- a/arch/x86/tools/mcreboot-smp-x86.sh.in
+++ b/arch/x86/tools/mcreboot-smp-x86.sh.in
@@ -144,6 +144,9 @@ fi
 # Drop Linux caches to free memory
 sync && echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches
 
+# Merge free memory areas into large, physically contigous ones
+echo 1 > /proc/sys/vm/compact_memory 2>/dev/null
+
 # Load IHK-SMP if not loaded and reserve CPUs and memory
 if [ "`lsmod | grep ihk_smp_x86`" == "" ]; then
         ihk_irq=""