diff --git a/src/raw/mod.rs b/src/raw/mod.rs
index e3da8714f5..3b667fd44d 100644
--- a/src/raw/mod.rs
+++ b/src/raw/mod.rs
@@ -43,14 +43,24 @@ use self::imp::Group;
 // consistently improves performance by 10-15%.
 #[cfg(feature = "nightly")]
 use core::intrinsics::{likely, unlikely};
+
+// On stable we can use #[cold] to get a equivalent effect: this attributes
+// suggests that the function is unlikely to be called
+#[cfg(not(feature = "nightly"))]
+#[inline]
+#[cold]
+fn cold() {}
+
 #[cfg(not(feature = "nightly"))]
 #[inline]
 fn likely(b: bool) -> bool {
+    if !b { cold() }
     b
 }
 #[cfg(not(feature = "nightly"))]
 #[inline]
 fn unlikely(b: bool) -> bool {
+    if b { cold() }
     b
 }