diff --git a/src/inet/common/MemoryInputStream.h b/src/inet/common/MemoryInputStream.h
index 27997392022..971e0200a49 100644
--- a/src/inet/common/MemoryInputStream.h
+++ b/src/inet/common/MemoryInputStream.h
@@ -437,10 +437,7 @@ class INET_API MemoryInputStream
      * byte order and MSB to LSB bit order.
      */
     MacAddress readMacAddress() {
-        MacAddress address;
-        for (int i = 0; i < MAC_ADDRESS_SIZE; i++)
-            address.setAddressByte(i, readByte());
-        return address;
+        return MacAddress(readUint48Be());
     }
 
     /**