diff --git a/nselib/mqtt.lua b/nselib/mqtt.lua
index a8c64ed24..5d6f96434 100644
--- a/nselib/mqtt.lua
+++ b/nselib/mqtt.lua
@@ -757,7 +757,7 @@ MQTT.packet["PUBLISH"].parse = function(fhflags, buf)
   res.qos = qos
 
   -- 3.3.1.3 RETAIN
-  local ret = (bit.band(fhflags, 0x1) == 0x8)
+  local ret = ((fhflags & 0x1) == 0x1)
   res.retain = ret
 
   -- 3.3.2.1 Topic Name