diff --git a/src/packet.rs b/src/packet.rs
index 7b083f0..549a301 100644
--- a/src/packet.rs
+++ b/src/packet.rs
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ pub enum Packet {
 impl Packet {
     /// Deserializes a [`u8`] slice into a [`Packet`].
     pub fn deserialize(buf: &[u8]) -> Result<Packet, Box<dyn Error>> {
+        if buf.len() < 2 {
+            return Err("Buffer too short to serialize".into());
+        }
         let opcode = Opcode::from_u16(Convert::to_u16(&buf[0..=1])?)?;
 
         match opcode {