diff --git a/src/decode-events.h b/src/decode-events.h
index 7f2950526c..d5ffa6e544 100644
--- a/src/decode-events.h
+++ b/src/decode-events.h
@@ -124,6 +124,9 @@ enum {
 
     /* RAW EVENTS */
     IPRAW_INVALID_IPV,              /**< invalid ip version in ip raw */
+
+    /* should always be last! */
+    DECODE_EVENT_MAX,
 };
 
 #endif /* __DECODE_EVENTS_H__ */
diff --git a/src/decode.h b/src/decode.h
index 013c44cca2..1d784eed8a 100644
--- a/src/decode.h
+++ b/src/decode.h
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ typedef struct Packet_
     uint16_t payload_len;
 
     /* decoder events: review how many events we have */
-    uint8_t events[65535 / 8];
+    uint8_t events[(DECODE_EVENT_MAX / 8) + 1];
 
     PacketAlerts alerts;