diff --git a/bindings/python/iio.py b/bindings/python/iio.py
index 208799b01..b0fca1573 100644
--- a/bindings/python/iio.py
+++ b/bindings/python/iio.py
@@ -853,7 +853,7 @@ def read(self, block, raw=False):
         returns: type=bytearray
             An array containing the samples for this channel
         """
-        array = bytearray(buf._length)
+        array = bytearray(len(block))
         mytype = c_char * len(array)
         c_array = mytype.from_buffer(array)
         length = _c_read(self._channel, block._block, c_array, len(array), raw)