diff --git a/library/core/benches/fmt.rs b/library/core/benches/fmt.rs
index d1cdb12e50f8..a02bd6065425 100644
--- a/library/core/benches/fmt.rs
+++ b/library/core/benches/fmt.rs
@@ -148,3 +148,17 @@ fn write_u64_min(bh: &mut Bencher) {
         test::black_box(format!("{}", 0u64));
     });
 }
+
+#[bench]
+fn write_u8_max(bh: &mut Bencher) {
+    bh.iter(|| {
+        test::black_box(format!("{}", u8::MAX));
+    });
+}
+
+#[bench]
+fn write_u8_min(bh: &mut Bencher) {
+    bh.iter(|| {
+        test::black_box(format!("{}", 0u8));
+    });
+}
diff --git a/library/core/src/fmt/num.rs b/library/core/src/fmt/num.rs
index ab2158394bf1..abe833a4bf2d 100644
--- a/library/core/src/fmt/num.rs
+++ b/library/core/src/fmt/num.rs
@@ -79,11 +79,11 @@ unsafe trait GenericRadix: Sized {
         if is_nonnegative {
             // Accumulate each digit of the number from the least significant
             // to the most significant figure.
-            for byte in buf.iter_mut().rev() {
+            loop {
                 let n = x % base; // Get the current place value.
                 x = x / base; // Deaccumulate the number.
-                byte.write(Self::digit(n.to_u8())); // Store the digit in the buffer.
                 curr -= 1;
+                buf[curr].write(Self::digit(n.to_u8())); // Store the digit in the buffer.
                 if x == zero {
                     // No more digits left to accumulate.
                     break;
@@ -91,11 +91,11 @@ unsafe trait GenericRadix: Sized {
             }
         } else {
             // Do the same as above, but accounting for two's complement.
-            for byte in buf.iter_mut().rev() {
+            loop {
                 let n = zero - (x % base); // Get the current place value.
                 x = x / base; // Deaccumulate the number.
-                byte.write(Self::digit(n.to_u8())); // Store the digit in the buffer.
                 curr -= 1;
+                buf[curr].write(Self::digit(n.to_u8())); // Store the digit in the buffer.
                 if x == zero {
                     // No more digits left to accumulate.
                     break;