diff --git a/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/packet/EAP.java b/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/packet/EAP.java
index 3fba4c9..57d32a6 100644
--- a/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/packet/EAP.java
+++ b/utils/misc/src/main/java/org/onlab/packet/EAP.java
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@
             eap.identifier = bb.get();
             eap.length = bb.getShort();
 
-            checkHeaderLength(length, HEADER_LENGTH + eap.length);
+            checkHeaderLength(length, eap.length);
 
             int dataLength;
             if (eap.code == REQUEST || eap.code == RESPONSE) {