diff --git a/lib/std/fifo.zig b/lib/std/fifo.zig
index ad929cde8af1a300fe08b914733a399b82d6468a..5a72b5626938679e69c7fd45a7db09baa217ad37 100644
--- a/lib/std/fifo.zig
+++ b/lib/std/fifo.zig
@@ -385,6 +385,7 @@ pub fn LinearFifo(
         }
 
         pub fn toOwnedSlice(self: *Self) Allocator.Error![]T {
+            if (self.head != 0) self.realign();
             assert(self.head == 0);
             assert(self.count <= self.buf.len);
             const allocator = self.allocator;