diff --git a/watcher.c b/watcher.c
index 98e537d..c0230b6 100644
--- a/watcher.c
+++ b/watcher.c
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#include <stdalign.h>
 #include <dirent.h>
 #include <signal.h>
 #include <errno.h>
@@ -9,7 +10,8 @@
 #define GEBS_IMPLEMENTATION
 #include "gebs/gebs.h"
 
-#define EVENT_BUFFER_SIZE (1 * (sizeof(struct inotify_event) + NAME_MAX + 1))
+#define EVENT_BUFFER_SIZE (5 * (sizeof(struct inotify_event) + NAME_MAX + 1))
+#define EVENT_BUFFER_ALIGNMENT __attribute__((aligned(alignof(struct inotify_event))))
 
 typedef struct {
     int key;        // watch descriptor
@@ -153,7 +155,7 @@ int main(int argc, char ** argv)
 
     pid_t cmd_pid = cmd_run_async(&cmd);
 
-    char event_buffer[EVENT_BUFFER_SIZE] __attribute__((aligned(8)));
+    char event_buffer[EVENT_BUFFER_SIZE] EVENT_BUFFER_ALIGNMENT;
     while (running) {
         ssize_t nread;
         if ((nread = read(watcher.fd, event_buffer, EVENT_BUFFER_SIZE)) < 0) {