diff --git a/hblink.py b/hblink.py
index 3dd69c4..3685073 100755
--- a/hblink.py
+++ b/hblink.py
@@ -758,7 +758,7 @@ class OPENBRIDGE(DatagramProtocol):
                         _hops = _packet[13:14]
                         if _hash == _hash2:
                             logger.trace('(%s) *ProtoControl* BCTO received: %s connected to %s with proto ver. %s',self._system, int_id(_src), int_id(_dst), int.from_bytes(_ver,'big'))
-                            if (int(_hops.from_bytes('big')) < 10):
+                            if (int.from_bytes(_hops,'big') < 10):
                                 retransmit_bcto(_packet[:14])
                             else:
                                 if _hops > 10: