diff --git a/adafruit_adxl34x.py b/adafruit_adxl34x.py
index 7ecbbfc..6d7dba7 100644
--- a/adafruit_adxl34x.py
+++ b/adafruit_adxl34x.py
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ def _read_register(self, register, length):
         with self._i2c as i2c:
             i2c.write(self._buffer, start=0, end=1)
             i2c.readinto(self._buffer, start=0, end=length)
-            return self._buffer
+            return self._buffer[0:length]
 
     def _write_register_byte(self, register, value):
         self._buffer[0] = register & 0xFF