diff --git a/pybtc/tools.py b/pybtc/tools.py
index ebb2fc0..54fecbe 100644
--- a/pybtc/tools.py
+++ b/pybtc/tools.py
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ def merkle_branches(tx_hash_list):
     tx_hash_list = list(tx_hash_list)
     branches = []
     if len(tx_hash_list) == 1:
-        return tx_hash_list[0]
+        return tx_hash_list
     tx_hash_list.pop(0)
     while True:
         branches.append(tx_hash_list.pop(0))