diff --git a/ip/xfrm_state.c b/ip/xfrm_state.c
index 4483fb8f..99fdec23 100644
--- a/ip/xfrm_state.c
+++ b/ip/xfrm_state.c
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ static int xfrm_state_modify(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 
 				xfrm_algo_parse((void *)&alg, type, name, key,
 						buf, sizeof(alg.buf));
-				len += alg.u.alg.alg_key_len;
+				len += alg.u.alg.alg_key_len / 8;
 
 				addattr_l(&req.n, sizeof(req.buf), type,
 					  (void *)&alg, len);