diff --git a/src/vmlocate.cpp b/src/vmlocate.cpp
index 7a64720..9e6f3f7 100644
--- a/src/vmlocate.cpp
+++ b/src/vmlocate.cpp
@@ -186,16 +186,34 @@ namespace vm::locate
             if ( !found_valid_jmp )
                 return false;
 
-            // second instruction in the flattened stream should be a push...
-            // this is also an optimization so we dont have to hit that 0^2 std::find_if every time...
-            if ( instr_stream[ 1 ].mnemonic != ZYDIS_MNEMONIC_PUSH )
+            // find the first PUSH IMM (encrypted RVA to virtual instructions...)
+            auto first_push = std::find_if( instr_stream.begin(), instr_stream.end(),
+                                            [ & ]( const zydis_decoded_instr_t &instr ) -> bool {
+                                                return instr.mnemonic == ZYDIS_MNEMONIC_PUSH &&
+                                                       instr.operands[ 0 ].type == ZYDIS_OPERAND_TYPE_IMMEDIATE;
+                                            } );
+
+            if ( first_push == instr_stream.end() )
                 return false;
 
-            if ( std::find_if( instr_stream.begin() + 1, instr_stream.end(),
-                               [ & ]( const ZydisDecodedInstruction &instr ) {
-                                   return instr.mnemonic == ZYDIS_MNEMONIC_PUSH &&
-                                          instr.operands[ 0 ].type == ZYDIS_OPERAND_TYPE_IMMEDIATE;
-                               } ) == instr_stream.end() )
+            // find the second PUSH IMM...
+            auto second_push =
+                std::find_if( first_push + 1, instr_stream.end(), [ & ]( const zydis_decoded_instr_t &instr ) -> bool {
+                    return instr.mnemonic == ZYDIS_MNEMONIC_PUSH &&
+                           instr.operands[ 0 ].type == ZYDIS_OPERAND_TYPE_IMMEDIATE;
+                } );
+
+            if ( second_push == instr_stream.end() )
+                return false;
+
+            // if there is a third push IMM then we have an invalid instruction stream...
+            auto third_push =
+                std::find_if( second_push + 1, instr_stream.end(), [ & ]( const zydis_decoded_instr_t &instr ) -> bool {
+                    return instr.mnemonic == ZYDIS_MNEMONIC_PUSH &&
+                           instr.operands[ 0 ].type == ZYDIS_OPERAND_TYPE_IMMEDIATE;
+                } );
+
+            if ( third_push != instr_stream.end() )
                 return false;
 
             // scan over the instruction stream to see if it contains an lea r12, xxxx which is a known vm handler table