diff --git a/src/system/kernel/vm/vm.cpp b/src/system/kernel/vm/vm.cpp
index 6c21a286eb..009c698a46 100644
--- a/src/system/kernel/vm/vm.cpp
+++ b/src/system/kernel/vm/vm.cpp
@@ -4341,19 +4341,18 @@ vm_allocate_early_physical_page(kernel_args* args)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+	// Try expanding the existing physical ranges upwards.
 	for (uint32 i = 0; i < args->num_physical_allocated_ranges; i++) {
-		phys_addr_t nextPage;
-
-		nextPage = args->physical_allocated_range[i].start
+		phys_addr_t nextPage = args->physical_allocated_range[i].start
 			+ args->physical_allocated_range[i].size;
-		// see if the page after the next allocated paddr run can be allocated
-		if (i + 1 < args->num_physical_allocated_ranges
-			&& args->physical_allocated_range[i + 1].size != 0) {
-			// see if the next page will collide with the next allocated range
-			if (nextPage >= args->physical_allocated_range[i+1].start)
+
+		// make sure the next page does not collide with the next allocated range
+		if ((i + 1) < args->num_physical_allocated_ranges
+				&& args->physical_allocated_range[i + 1].size != 0) {
+			if (nextPage >= args->physical_allocated_range[i + 1].start)
 				continue;
 		}
-		// see if the next physical page fits in the memory block
+		// see if the next page fits in the memory block
 		if (is_page_in_physical_memory_range(args, nextPage)) {
 			// we got one!
 			args->physical_allocated_range[i].size += B_PAGE_SIZE;
@@ -4363,14 +4362,12 @@ vm_allocate_early_physical_page(kernel_args* args)
 
 	// Expanding upwards didn't work, try going downwards.
 	for (uint32 i = 0; i < args->num_physical_allocated_ranges; i++) {
-		phys_addr_t nextPage;
+		phys_addr_t nextPage = args->physical_allocated_range[i].start - B_PAGE_SIZE;
 
-		nextPage = args->physical_allocated_range[i].start - B_PAGE_SIZE;
-		// see if the page after the prev allocated paddr run can be allocated
-		if (i > 0 && args->physical_allocated_range[i - 1].size != 0) {
-			// see if the next page will collide with the next allocated range
-			if (nextPage < args->physical_allocated_range[i-1].start
-				+ args->physical_allocated_range[i-1].size)
+		// make sure the next page does not collide with the previous allocated range
+		if ((i > 0) && args->physical_allocated_range[i - 1].size != 0) {
+			if (nextPage < args->physical_allocated_range[i - 1].start
+					+ args->physical_allocated_range[i - 1].size)
 				continue;
 		}
 		// see if the next physical page fits in the memory block