diff --git a/common.go b/common.go
index b1853471..42a389d4 100644
--- a/common.go
+++ b/common.go
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ func readVarString(r io.Reader, pver uint32) (string, error) {
 	}
 
 	buf := make([]byte, count)
-	err = readElement(r, buf)
+	_, err = io.ReadFull(r, buf)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}