diff --git a/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/types/dht/schema/smpl.rs b/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/types/dht/schema/smpl.rs
index 942652fe..f1079a53 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/types/dht/schema/smpl.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/veilid_api/types/dht/schema/smpl.rs
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ impl DHTSchemaSMPL {
 impl TryFrom<&[u8]> for DHTSchemaSMPL {
     type Error = VeilidAPIError;
     fn try_from(b: &[u8]) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
-        if b.len() != Self::FIXED_SIZE {
+        if b.len() < 4 {
             apibail_generic!("invalid size");
         }
         if &b[0..4] != &Self::FCC {