diff --git a/right/src/deserialize.c b/right/src/deserialize.c
index e24894a..b9b0e5b 100644
--- a/right/src/deserialize.c
+++ b/right/src/deserialize.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ static bool readBool(serialized_buffer_t *buffer) {
 static uint16_t readCompactLength(serialized_buffer_t *buffer) {
     uint16_t length = readUInt8(buffer);
     if (length == longCompactLengthPrefix) {
-        length += readUInt8(buffer) << 8;
+        length = readUInt16(buffer);
     }
     return length;
 }