diff --git a/lib/utils/encoding.js b/lib/utils/encoding.js
index 87253d2c..a98fbe2c 100644
--- a/lib/utils/encoding.js
+++ b/lib/utils/encoding.js
@@ -665,13 +665,13 @@ encoding.readVarintN = function readVarintN(data, off) {
     const size = 9;
     assert(off + size <= data.length, off);
     const value = encoding.readU64N(data, off + 1);
-    enforce(value.gtn(0xffffffff), off, 'Non-canonical varint');
+    enforce(value.hi !== 0, off, 'Non-canonical varint');
     return new Varint(size, value);
   }
 
-  const result = encoding.readVarint(data, off);
-  result.value = U64.fromInt(result.value);
-  return result;
+  const {size, value} = encoding.readVarint(data, off);
+
+  return new Varint(size, U64.fromInt(value));
 };
 
 /**