diff --git a/cmd/devp2p/internal/ethtest/transaction.go b/cmd/devp2p/internal/ethtest/transaction.go
index 8ce26f3e1a..855e799b4f 100644
--- a/cmd/devp2p/internal/ethtest/transaction.go
+++ b/cmd/devp2p/internal/ethtest/transaction.go
@@ -155,7 +155,11 @@ func (s *Suite) sendInvalidTxs(t *utesting.T, txs []*types.Transaction) error {
 
 		switch msg := msg.(type) {
 		case *eth.TransactionsPacket:
-			for _, tx := range txs {
+			received, err := msg.Items()
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("failed to decode received transactions: %w", err)
+			}
+			for _, tx := range received {
 				if _, ok := invalids[tx.Hash()]; ok {
 					return fmt.Errorf("received bad tx: %s", tx.Hash())
 				}