diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/walk/range.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/walk/range.go
index a51b218ae5..ede9f2182d 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/walk/range.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/walk/range.go
@@ -342,7 +342,10 @@ func walkRange(nrange *ir.RangeStmt) ir.Node {
 
 		// if hv2 < utf8.RuneSelf
 		nif := ir.NewIfStmt(base.Pos, nil, nil, nil)
-		nif.Cond = ir.NewBinaryExpr(base.Pos, ir.OLT, hv2, ir.NewInt(base.Pos, utf8.RuneSelf))
+
+		// On x86, hv2 <= 127 is shorter to encode than hv2 < 128
+		// Doesn't hurt other archs.
+		nif.Cond = ir.NewBinaryExpr(base.Pos, ir.OLE, hv2, ir.NewInt(base.Pos, utf8.RuneSelf-1))
 
 		// hv1++
 		nif.Body = []ir.Node{ir.NewAssignStmt(base.Pos, hv1, ir.NewBinaryExpr(base.Pos, ir.OADD, hv1, ir.NewInt(base.Pos, 1)))}