diff --git a/lib/chain/chaindb.js b/lib/chain/chaindb.js
index 4bec6169..d435e72d 100644
--- a/lib/chain/chaindb.js
+++ b/lib/chain/chaindb.js
@@ -180,10 +180,10 @@ var layout = {
     var hash, index;
 
     if (key.length === 69) {
-      hash = key.slice(33, 65).toString('hex');
+      hash = key.toString('hex', 33, 65);
       index = key.readUInt32BE(65, 0);
     } else {
-      hash = key.slice(21, 53).toString('hex');
+      hash = key.toString('hex', 21, 53);
       index = key.readUInt32BE(53, 0);
     }
 
@@ -191,8 +191,8 @@ var layout = {
   },
   Tt: function Tt(key) {
     return key.length === 65
-      ? key.slice(33).toString('hex')
-      : key.slice(21).toString('hex');
+      ? key.toString('hex', 33, 65)
+      : key.toString('hex', 21, 53);
   }
 };