diff --git a/tipc/msg.c b/tipc/msg.c
index 22c22226..dc09d050 100644
--- a/tipc/msg.c
+++ b/tipc/msg.c
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ static int get_family(void)
 	genl->cmd = CTRL_CMD_GETFAMILY;
 	genl->version = 1;
 
-	mnl_attr_put_u32(nlh, CTRL_ATTR_FAMILY_ID, GENL_ID_CTRL);
+	mnl_attr_put_u16(nlh, CTRL_ATTR_FAMILY_ID, GENL_ID_CTRL);
 	mnl_attr_put_strz(nlh, CTRL_ATTR_FAMILY_NAME, TIPC_GENL_V2_NAME);
 
 	if ((err = msg_query(nlh, family_id_cb, &nl_family)))