diff --git a/create-diff-object.c b/create-diff-object.c
index 82f777e..f9f4abf 100644
--- a/create-diff-object.c
+++ b/create-diff-object.c
@@ -962,9 +962,35 @@ static int bug_frames_0_group_size(struct kpatch_elf *kelf, int offset) { return
 static int bug_frames_1_group_size(struct kpatch_elf *kelf, int offset) { return 8; }
 static int bug_frames_2_group_size(struct kpatch_elf *kelf, int offset) { return 8; }
 static int bug_frames_3_group_size(struct kpatch_elf *kelf, int offset) { return 16; }
-static int ex_table_group_size(struct kpatch_elf *kelf, int offset) { return 8; }
-static int altinstructions_group_size(struct kpatch_elf *kelf, int offset) { return 12; }
+int ex_table_group_size(struct kpatch_elf *kelf, int offset)
+{
+	static int size = 0;
+	char *str;
+
+	if (!size) {
+		str = getenv("EX_STRUCT_SIZE");
+		if (!str)
+			ERROR("EX_STRUCT_SIZE not set");
+		size = atoi(str);
+	}
+
+	return size;
+}
 
+int altinstructions_group_size(struct kpatch_elf *kelf, int offset)
+{
+	static int size = 0;
+	char *str;
+
+	if (!size) {
+		str = getenv("ALT_STRUCT_SIZE");
+		if (!str)
+			ERROR("ALT_STRUCT_SIZE not set");
+		size = atoi(str);
+	}
+
+	return size;
+}
 /*
  * The rela groups in the .fixup section vary in size.  The beginning of each
  * .fixup rela group is referenced by the .ex_table section. To find the size
diff --git a/livepatch-build b/livepatch-build
index c057fa1..6c3409c 100755
--- a/livepatch-build
+++ b/livepatch-build
@@ -304,6 +304,27 @@ if [ "${SKIP}" != "build" ]; then
         XEN_DEBUG="debug=$XEN_DEBUG"
     fi
 
+    echo "Reading special section data"
+    SPECIAL_VARS=$(readelf -wi "$XENSYMS" |
+        gawk --non-decimal-data '
+	BEGIN { a = e = 0 }
+	a == 0 && /DW_AT_name.* alt_instr$/ {a = 1; next}
+	e == 0 && /DW_AT_name.* exception_table_entry$/ {e = 1; next}
+	a == 1 {printf("export ALT_STRUCT_SIZE=%d\n", $4); a = 2}
+	e == 1 {printf("export EX_STRUCT_SIZE=%d\n", $4); e = 2}
+	a == 2 && b == 2 && p == 2 && e == 2 {exit}')
+
+    [[ -n $SPECIAL_VARS ]] && eval "$SPECIAL_VARS"
+
+    if [[ -z $ALT_STRUCT_SIZE ]] || [[ -z $EX_STRUCT_SIZE ]]; then
+	die "can't find special struct size"
+    fi
+    for i in $ALT_STRUCT_SIZE $EX_STRUCT_SIZE; do 
+	if [[ ! $i -gt 0 ]] || [[ ! $i -le 16 ]]; then
+		die "invalid special struct size $i"
+	fi
+    done
+
     echo "Perform full initial build with ${CPUS} CPU(s)..."
     build_full