diff --git a/src/python/loxi/of12/common.py b/src/python/loxi/of12/common.py
index f2d2493..698fe7a 100644
--- a/src/python/loxi/of12/common.py
+++ b/src/python/loxi/of12/common.py
@@ -706,7 +706,7 @@
         packed.append(util.pack_list(self.oxm_list))
         length = sum([len(x) for x in packed])
         packed[1] = struct.pack("!H", length)
-        packed.append('\x00' * ((length + 7)/8*8 - length))
+        packed.append(loxi.generic_util.pad_to(8, length))
         return ''.join(packed)
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@
         assert(_type == 1)
         _length = reader.read("!H")[0]
         obj.oxm_list = oxm.unpack_list(reader.slice(_length-4))
-        reader.skip((_length + 7)/8*8 - _length)
+        reader.skip_align()
         return obj
 
     def __eq__(self, other):