diff --git a/include/xrpl/nodestore/detail/varint.h b/include/xrpl/nodestore/detail/varint.h
index f0757a596e..307e79eab5 100644
--- a/include/xrpl/nodestore/detail/varint.h
+++ b/include/xrpl/nodestore/detail/varint.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ read_varint(void const* buf, std::size_t buflen, std::size_t& t)
         return 1;
     }
     auto const used = n;
-    for (; n > 0; --n)
+    for (n = n - 1; n > 0; --n)
     {
         auto const d = p[n];
         auto const t0 = t;