diff --git a/src/main/java/jnr/ffi/byref/AbstractNumberReference.java b/src/main/java/jnr/ffi/byref/AbstractNumberReference.java
index 2e634aae5..51d94bbb5 100644
--- a/src/main/java/jnr/ffi/byref/AbstractNumberReference.java
+++ b/src/main/java/jnr/ffi/byref/AbstractNumberReference.java
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ public final byte byteValue() {
     
     @Override
     public final short shortValue() {
-        return value.byteValue();
+        return value.shortValue();
     }
 
     public final int intValue() {