http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=48990 --- Comment #2 from Andrew Pinski <pinskia at gcc dot gnu.org> 2011-05-13 17:49:28 UTC --- >That clobbers $4 (A0) in the no-branch case No it does not as beql is a branch likely instruction and the delay slot only happens when the branch is taken.