diff --git a/src/sparse/node.rs b/src/sparse/node.rs
index c1d624e1..4fb36851 100644
--- a/src/sparse/node.rs
+++ b/src/sparse/node.rs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ impl Node {
         let buffer = Self::default_buffer();
         let mut node = Self { buffer };
         node.set_height(0);
-        node.set_bytes_prefix(&[LEAF]);
+        node.set_prefix(LEAF);
         node.set_bytes_lo(key);
         node.set_bytes_hi(&sum(data));
         node
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ impl Node {
         let buffer = Self::default_buffer();
         let mut node = Self { buffer };
         node.set_height(left_child.height() + 1);
-        node.set_bytes_prefix(&[NODE]);
+        node.set_prefix(NODE);
         node.set_bytes_lo(&left_child.hash());
         node.set_bytes_hi(&right_child.hash());
         node
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ impl Node {
         self.bytes_prefix()[0]
     }
 
+    pub fn set_prefix(&mut self, prefix: u8) {
+        let bytes = prefix.to_be_bytes();
+        self.set_bytes_prefix(&bytes);
+    }
+
     pub fn leaf_key(&self) -> &Bytes32 {
         assert!(self.is_leaf());
         self.bytes_lo().try_into().unwrap()