diff --git a/lib/smbhash.js b/lib/smbhash.js
index 1930372..cdd7541 100644
--- a/lib/smbhash.js
+++ b/lib/smbhash.js
@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@ function lmhashbuf(inputstr)
   var buf = new Buffer(16);
   var pos = 0;
   var cts = halves.forEach(function(z) {
-    var key = z.toString('binary');
-    var des = crypto.createCipheriv('DES-ECB', key, '');
+    var des = crypto.createCipheriv('DES-ECB', z, '');
     var str = des.update('KGS!@#$%', 'binary', 'binary');
     buf.write(str, pos, pos + 8, 'binary');
     pos += 8;