diff --git a/cortex-ar/src/asm.rs b/cortex-ar/src/asm.rs
index e396c6d..f71d17e 100644
--- a/cortex-ar/src/asm.rs
+++ b/cortex-ar/src/asm.rs
@@ -1,41 +1,50 @@
 //! Simple assembly routines
 
-/// Emit an DSB instruction
+use core::sync::atomic::{compiler_fence, Ordering};
+
+/// Data Synchronization Barrier
+///
+/// Acts as a special kind of memory barrier. No instruction in program order after this instruction
+/// can execute until this instruction completes. This instruction completes only when both:
+///
+///  * any explicit memory access made before this instruction is complete
+///  * all cache and branch predictor maintenance operations before this instruction complete
 #[inline]
 pub fn dsb() {
+    compiler_fence(Ordering::SeqCst);
     unsafe {
-        core::arch::asm!("dsb");
+        core::arch::asm!("dsb", options(nostack, preserves_flags));
     }
+    compiler_fence(Ordering::SeqCst);
 }
 
-/// Emit an ISB instruction
+/// Instruction Synchronization Barrier
+///
+/// Flushes the pipeline in the processor, so that all instructions following the `ISB` are fetched
+/// from cache or memory, after the instruction has been completed.
 #[inline]
 pub fn isb() {
+    compiler_fence(Ordering::SeqCst);
     unsafe {
-        core::arch::asm!("isb");
+        core::arch::asm!("isb", options(nostack, preserves_flags));
     }
+    compiler_fence(Ordering::SeqCst);
 }
 
 /// Emit an NOP instruction
 #[inline]
 pub fn nop() {
-    unsafe {
-        core::arch::asm!("nop");
-    }
+    unsafe { core::arch::asm!("nop", options(nomem, nostack, preserves_flags)) }
 }
 
 /// Emit an WFI instruction
 #[inline]
 pub fn wfi() {
-    unsafe {
-        core::arch::asm!("wfi");
-    }
+    unsafe { core::arch::asm!("wfi", options(nomem, nostack, preserves_flags)) }
 }
 
 /// Emit an WFE instruction
 #[inline]
 pub fn wfe() {
-    unsafe {
-        core::arch::asm!("wfe");
-    }
+    unsafe { core::arch::asm!("wfe", options(nomem, nostack, preserves_flags)) }
 }