diff --git a/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/common/serialize.hpp b/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/common/serialize.hpp
index 41f768953b02..63771b2d4a89 100644
--- a/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/common/serialize.hpp
+++ b/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/common/serialize.hpp
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ void read(std::vector<uint8_t> const& buf, std::integral auto& value)
 void write(std::vector<uint8_t>& buf, const std::integral auto& value)
 {
     buf.resize(buf.size() + sizeof(value));
-    uint8_t* ptr = &*buf.end() - sizeof(value);
+    uint8_t* ptr = buf.data() + buf.size() - sizeof(value);
     write(ptr, value);
 }
 
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ inline void write(std::ostream& os, std::vector<uint8_t> const& value)
 template <size_t N> inline void write(std::vector<uint8_t>& buf, std::array<uint8_t, N> const& value)
 {
     buf.resize(buf.size() + N);
-    auto* ptr = &*buf.end() - N;
+    auto* ptr = buf.data() + buf.size() - N;
     write(ptr, value);
 }