diff --git a/bmemcached/protocol.py b/bmemcached/protocol.py
index 1d3c45c..9a3b266 100644
--- a/bmemcached/protocol.py
+++ b/bmemcached/protocol.py
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+# The value body of a get response starts with a 4 byte flags field. A Struct
+# for '!L%ds' would be specific to one value length, so it is not reusable.
+# Read the fixed part with this, then slice the rest. A slice compiles nothing.
+FLAGS_UNPACKER = struct.Struct("!L")
+
 
 class Protocol(threading.local):
     """
@@ -475,7 +480,8 @@ def get(self, key):
 
             raise MemcachedException(f"Code: {status:d} Message: {extra_content}", status)
 
-        flags, value = struct.unpack(f"!L{bodylen - 4}s", extra_content)
+        (flags,) = FLAGS_UNPACKER.unpack_from(extra_content)
+        value = extra_content[4:]
 
         return self.deserialize(value, flags), cas
 
@@ -549,7 +555,9 @@ def get_multi(self, keys):
             )
 
             if status == SUCCESS:
-                flags, key, value = struct.unpack(f"!L{keylen}s{bodylen - keylen - 4}s", extra_content)
+                (flags,) = FLAGS_UNPACKER.unpack_from(extra_content)
+                key = extra_content[4 : 4 + keylen]
+                value = extra_content[4 + keylen :]
                 d[key] = self.deserialize(value, flags), cas
 
             elif status == DISCONNECTED: