diff --git a/src/libxrpl/beast/net/IPAddressV6.cpp b/src/libxrpl/beast/net/IPAddressV6.cpp
index 667b35399d..f3e369c6d2 100644
--- a/src/libxrpl/beast/net/IPAddressV6.cpp
+++ b/src/libxrpl/beast/net/IPAddressV6.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ is_public(AddressV6 const& addr)
     auto const b = addr.to_bytes();
 
     // fe80::/10 - Link-local
-    if (b[0] & 0xff == 0xfe && (b[1] & 0xc0) == 0x80)
+    if (b[0] == 0xfe && (b[1] & 0xc0) == 0x80)
         return false;
     // 100::/64 - Discard prefix (RFC 6666)
     if (b[0] == 0x01 && b[1] == 0x00 && b[2] == 0 && b[3] == 0 && b[4] == 0 &&