diff --git a/lib/encode.js b/lib/encode.js
index a47f1e69..a2a726b0 100644
--- a/lib/encode.js
+++ b/lib/encode.js
@@ -149,8 +149,9 @@ function _getPrefix({isLegacy, compressionMode, registryEntryId}) {
     varintTagValue, varintByteValue
   } = _getVarintStructure(registryEntryId);
   if(varintByteValue) {
-    // define varintByteValue as first element in 2 element array
-    return [...varintTagValue, ...new Uint8Array([0x82]), ...varintByteValue];
+    // Define varintByteValue as first element in 2 element array
+    // `0x82` means "the following is a 2 element array"
+    return [...varintTagValue, 0x82, ...varintByteValue];
   }
   return varintTagValue;