diff --git a/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.cpp b/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.cpp
index 2a308f1a..a8f4b013 100644
--- a/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.cpp
@@ -563,9 +563,10 @@ int16_t SX126x::readData(uint8_t* data, size_t len) {
   }
 
   // get packet length
-  size_t length = len;
-  if(len == RADIOLIB_SX126X_MAX_PACKET_LENGTH) {
-    length = getPacketLength();
+  size_t length = getPacketLength();
+  if((len != 0) && (len < length)) {
+    // user requested less data than we got, only return what was requested
+    length = len;
   }
 
   // read packet data
diff --git a/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.h b/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.h
index 79564f2f..bd9525ce 100644
--- a/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.h
+++ b/src/modules/SX126x/SX126x.h
@@ -550,7 +550,8 @@ class SX126x: public PhysicalLayer {
 
       \param data Pointer to array to save the received binary data.
 
-      \param len Number of bytes that will be received. Must be known in advance for binary transmissions.
+      \param len Number of bytes that will be read. When set to 0, the packet length will be retreived automatically.
+      When more bytes than received are requested, only the number of bytes requested will be returned.
 
       \returns \ref status_codes
     */