diff --git a/riscemu/assembler.py b/riscemu/assembler.py
index 44a7113..1633377 100644
--- a/riscemu/assembler.py
+++ b/riscemu/assembler.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ class ParseContext:
     def _finalize_section(self):
         if self.section is None:
             return
+
         if self.section.type == MemorySectionType.Data:
             section = BinaryDataMemorySection(
                 self.section.data, self.section.name, self.context, self.program.name, self.section.base
@@ -79,12 +80,12 @@ class ParseContext:
                 self.section.data, self.section.name, self.context, self.program.name, self.section.base
             )
             self.program.add_section(section)
+
         self.section = None
 
     def new_section(self, name: str, type: MemorySectionType, alignment: int = 4):
-        base = 0
-        if self.section is not None:
-            base = align_addr(self.section.current_address(), alignment)
+        base = align_addr(self.current_address(), alignment)
+
         self._finalize_section()
         self.section = CurrentSection(name, type, base)
 
@@ -95,6 +96,11 @@ class ParseContext:
         if is_relative:
             self.program.relative_labels.add(name)
 
+    def current_address(self):
+        if self.section:
+            return self.section.current_address()
+        return self.program.base if self.program.base is not None else 0
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "{}(\n\tsetion={},\n\tprogram={}\n)".format(
             self.__class__.__name__, self.section, self.program
@@ -123,7 +129,7 @@ class AssemblerDirectives:
         ASSERT_LEN(args, 1)
         ASSERT_IN_SECTION_TYPE(context, MemorySectionType.Data)
         align_to = parse_numeric_argument(args[0])
-        current_mod = context.section.current_address() % align_to
+        current_mod = context.current_address() % align_to
         if current_mod == 0:
             return
         context.section.data += bytearray(align_to - current_mod)
diff --git a/riscemu/parser.py b/riscemu/parser.py
index 551ddd2..83f960e 100644
--- a/riscemu/parser.py
+++ b/riscemu/parser.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def parse_instruction(token: Token, args: Tuple[str], context: ParseContext):
         context.new_section('.text', MemorySectionType.Instructions)
     if context.section.type != MemorySectionType.Instructions:
         raise ParseException("{} {} encountered in invalid context: {}".format(token, args, context))
-    ins = SimpleInstruction(token.value, args, context.context, context.section.current_address())
+    ins = SimpleInstruction(token.value, args, context.context, context.current_address())
     context.section.data.append(ins)
 
 
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@ def parse_label(token: Token, args: Tuple[str], context: ParseContext):
     name = token.value[:-1]
     if re.match(r'^\d+$', name):
         # relative label:
-        context.context.numbered_labels[name].append(context.section.current_address())
+        context.context.numbered_labels[name].append(context.current_address())
     else:
         if name in context.context.labels:
             print(FMT_PARSE + 'Warn: Symbol {} defined twice!'.format(name))
-        context.add_label(name, context.section.current_address(), is_relative=True)
+        context.add_label(name, context.current_address(), is_relative=True)
 
 
 PARSERS: Dict[TokenType, Callable[[Token, Tuple[str], ParseContext], None]] = {