diff --git a/src/tiffimage.cpp b/src/tiffimage.cpp
index 34c5c04b..2f2b063d 100644
--- a/src/tiffimage.cpp
+++ b/src/tiffimage.cpp
@@ -523,15 +523,14 @@ namespace Exiv2 {
                                 : 1
                                 ;
 
-                // if ( offset > io.size() ) offset = 0;  // Denial of service?
+                // if ( offset > io.size() ) offset = 0; // Denial of service?
                 DataBuf  buf(MIN(size*kount + pad,48));  // allocate a buffer
-                if ( (isStringType(type) && count*size > 4) || count*size > 4 ) { // read into buffer
+                std::memcpy(buf.pData_,dir.pData_+8,4);  // copy dir[8:11] into buffer (short strings)
+                if ( count*size > 4 ) {            // read into buffer
                     size_t   restore = io.tell();  // save
                     io.seek(offset,BasicIo::beg);  // position
                     io.read(buf.pData_,kount*size);// read
                     io.seek(restore,BasicIo::beg); // restore
-                } else {                     // move data from directory into buffer
-                    std::memcpy(buf.pData_,dir.pData_+8,4);
                 }
 
                 uint32_t Offset = isLongType(type) ? byteSwap4(buf,0,bSwap) : 0 ;