diff --git a/re-pcre/re.py b/re-pcre/re.py
index eb1dc075..be2f23d7 100644
--- a/re-pcre/re.py
+++ b/re-pcre/re.py
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ class PCREPattern:
 
     def search(self, s, pos=0, endpos=-1, _flags=0):
         assert endpos == -1, "pos: %d, endpos: %d" % (pos, endpos)
-        buf = bytes(4)
+        buf = array.array('i', [0])
         pcre_fullinfo(self.obj, None, PCRE_INFO_CAPTURECOUNT, buf)
-        cap_count = int.from_bytes(buf, sys.byteorder)
+        cap_count = buf[0]
         ov = array.array('i', [0, 0, 0] * (cap_count + 1))
         num = pcre_exec(self.obj, None, s, len(s), pos, _flags, ov, len(ov))
         if num == -1: