diff --git a/src/hdf5_read.c b/src/hdf5_read.c
index 430eb18..5495d58 100644
--- a/src/hdf5_read.c
+++ b/src/hdf5_read.c
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ K readDataSimpleString(hid_t dset, hsize_t npoints, hid_t ntype, hid_t space, re
     H5Tset_size(stype, sz);
     fdata = (char *)calloc(npoints * sz, sizeof(char));
     readfunc(dset, stype, H5S_ALL, H5S_ALL, H5P_DEFAULT, fdata);
-    for(i = 1; i < npoints; ++i)
+    for(i = 0; i < npoints; ++i)
       jk(&result, kp(fdata + i * sz));
     free(fdata);
   }
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ K readDataCompoundString(hid_t dset, char* mname, hsize_t npoints, hid_t mtype,
     H5Tinsert(memtype, mname, 0, stype);
     fdata = (char *)calloc(npoints * sz, sizeof(char));
     readfunc(dset, memtype, H5S_ALL, H5S_ALL, H5P_DEFAULT, fdata);
-    for(i = 1; i < npoints; ++i)
+    for(i = 0; i < npoints; ++i)
       jk(&result, kp(fdata + i * sz));
     free(fdata);
   }