diff --git a/devlink/mnlg.c b/devlink/mnlg.c
index c33c90be..37cc25dd 100644
--- a/devlink/mnlg.c
+++ b/devlink/mnlg.c
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ int mnlg_socket_group_add(struct mnlg_socket *nlg, const char *group_name)
 
 	nlh = __mnlg_msg_prepare(nlg, CTRL_CMD_GETFAMILY,
 				 NLM_F_REQUEST | NLM_F_ACK, GENL_ID_CTRL, 1);
-	mnl_attr_put_u32(nlh, CTRL_ATTR_FAMILY_ID, nlg->id);
+	mnl_attr_put_u16(nlh, CTRL_ATTR_FAMILY_ID, nlg->id);
 
 	err = mnlg_socket_send(nlg, nlh);
 	if (err < 0)