diff --git a/net.h b/net.h
index 2f0a557d..75ae58c0 100644
--- a/net.h
+++ b/net.h
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ coap_context_t *coap_new_context(const coap_address_t *listen_addr);
 static inline unsigned short 
 coap_new_message_id(coap_context_t *context) {
 #ifndef WITH_CONTIKI
-  return htons(++context->message_id);
+  return htons(++(context->message_id));
 #else /* WITH_CONTIKI */
   return uip_htons(++context->message_id);
 #endif