The stability against fragmentation of a large organic compound (calix[4]arene dimelamine derivative) sublimated onto a Au(111) surface under ultrahigh vacuum conditions has been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. By coordinating the compound to gold atoms prior to deposition its stability can be signiflcantly enhanced, which suggests a new route toward improved processability of large organic building blocks for on-surface self-assembly of functional nanostructures.