diff --git a/openpilot/compile.py b/openpilot/compile.py
index dfb13a856d..e8fc88a53d 100644
--- a/openpilot/compile.py
+++ b/openpilot/compile.py
@@ -235,7 +235,8 @@ def compile(input, output_fn):
             needs_load = a in kernels_to_save
             row_pitch = (a.shape[0]*4*(2 if FLOAT16 else 4) + 63)//64 * 64
             size = row_pitch * a.shape[1]
-            buf = CLBuffer(size * (1 if FLOAT16 else 2))
+            # this is *2 if float16 and *4 if float32
+            buf = CLBuffer(size * (2 if FLOAT16 else 1))
 
             # zero out the buffer
             zeros = np.zeros(size, dtype=np.uint8)