diff --git a/src/lib/waku_message/version_1.ts b/src/lib/waku_message/version_1.ts
index 5a77c7f930..a43378e826 100644
--- a/src/lib/waku_message/version_1.ts
+++ b/src/lib/waku_message/version_1.ts
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ export function clearDecode(
   const sizeOfPayloadSizeField = getSizeOfPayloadSizeField(message);
   if (sizeOfPayloadSizeField === 0) return;
 
-  const payloadSize = buf.readUIntLE(start, sizeOfPayloadSizeField);
+  const payloadSize = getPayloadSize(message, sizeOfPayloadSizeField);
   start += sizeOfPayloadSizeField;
   const payload = buf.slice(start, start + payloadSize);
 
@@ -114,6 +114,14 @@ function getSizeOfPayloadSizeField(message: Uint8Array): number {
   return messageDataView.getUint8(0) & FlagMask;
 }
 
+function getPayloadSize(
+  message: Uint8Array,
+  sizeOfPayloadSizeField: number
+): number {
+  const buf = Buffer.from(message);
+  return buf.readUIntLE(1, sizeOfPayloadSizeField);
+}
+
 /**
  * Proceed with Asymmetric encryption of the data as per [26/WAKU-PAYLOAD](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/26/).
  * The data MUST be flags | payload-length | payload | [signature].