diff --git a/gen_input/templates/interp/CORENAME.cpp.gtl b/gen_input/templates/interp/CORENAME.cpp.gtl
index c8b3af2..f305cbb 100644
--- a/gen_input/templates/interp/CORENAME.cpp.gtl
+++ b/gen_input/templates/interp/CORENAME.cpp.gtl
@@ -272,6 +272,9 @@ vm_impl<ARCH>::vm_impl(ARCH &core, unsigned core_id, unsigned cluster_id)
     }
 }
 
+inline bool is_count_limit_enabled(finish_cond_e cond){
+    return (cond & finish_cond_e::COUNT_LIMIT) == finish_cond_e::COUNT_LIMIT;
+}
 template <typename ARCH>
 typename vm_base<ARCH>::virt_addr_t vm_impl<ARCH>::execute_inst(finish_cond_e cond, virt_addr_t start, uint64_t icount_limit){
     // we fetch at max 4 byte, alignment is 2
@@ -279,8 +282,8 @@ typename vm_base<ARCH>::virt_addr_t vm_impl<ARCH>::execute_inst(finish_cond_e co
     code_word_t insn = 0;
     auto *const data = (uint8_t *)&insn;
     auto pc=start;
-    while(!core.should_stop() &&
-            !((cond & finish_cond_e::COUNT_LIMIT) && core.get_icount() < icount)){
+    while(!this->core.should_stop() &&
+            !(is_count_limit_enabled(cond) && this->core.get_icount() >= icount_limit)){
         auto res = fetch_ins(pc, data);
         if(res!=iss::Ok){
             auto new_pc = super::core.enter_trap(TRAP_ID, pc.val);
diff --git a/incl/sysc/core_complex.h b/incl/sysc/core_complex.h
index b339ce0..22dd259 100644
--- a/incl/sysc/core_complex.h
+++ b/incl/sysc/core_complex.h
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ public:
 
     cci::cci_param<uint64_t> reset_address{"reset_address", 0ULL};
 
-    cci::cci_param<std::string> backend{"backend", "tcc"};
+    cci::cci_param<std::string> backend{"backend", "interp"};
 
     cci::cci_param<unsigned short> gdb_server_port{"gdb_server_port", 0};
 
diff --git a/src/sysc/core_complex.cpp b/src/sysc/core_complex.cpp
index c77648f..bf88030 100644
--- a/src/sysc/core_complex.cpp
+++ b/src/sysc/core_complex.cpp
@@ -290,6 +290,7 @@ void core_complex::before_end_of_elaboration() {
     cpu->set_mhartid(mhartid.get_value());
 
     vm = create_cpu(cpu.get(), backend.get_value(), gdb_server_port.get_value());
+    sc_assert(vm!=nullptr);
 #ifdef WITH_SCV
     vm->setDisassEnabled(enable_disass.get_value() || m_db != nullptr);
 #else
diff --git a/src/vm/interp/vm_tgf_c.cpp b/src/vm/interp/vm_tgf_c.cpp
index 2764ac8..11e811a 100644
--- a/src/vm/interp/vm_tgf_c.cpp
+++ b/src/vm/interp/vm_tgf_c.cpp
@@ -3435,6 +3435,9 @@ vm_impl<ARCH>::vm_impl(ARCH &core, unsigned core_id, unsigned cluster_id)
     }
 }
 
+inline bool is_count_limit_enabled(finish_cond_e cond){
+    return (cond & finish_cond_e::COUNT_LIMIT) == finish_cond_e::COUNT_LIMIT;
+}
 template <typename ARCH>
 typename vm_base<ARCH>::virt_addr_t vm_impl<ARCH>::execute_inst(finish_cond_e cond, virt_addr_t start, uint64_t icount_limit){
     // we fetch at max 4 byte, alignment is 2
@@ -3443,8 +3446,7 @@ typename vm_base<ARCH>::virt_addr_t vm_impl<ARCH>::execute_inst(finish_cond_e co
     auto *const data = (uint8_t *)&insn;
     auto pc=start;
     while(!this->core.should_stop() &&
-            !((cond & finish_cond_e::COUNT_LIMIT) == finish_cond_e::COUNT_LIMIT &&
-                    this->core.get_icount() < icount_limit)){
+            !(is_count_limit_enabled(cond) && this->core.get_icount() >= icount_limit)){
         auto res = fetch_ins(pc, data);
         if(res!=iss::Ok){
             auto new_pc = super::core.enter_trap(TRAP_ID, pc.val);