diff --git a/src/helper_generic.py b/src/helper_generic.py
index 2ea088cc..f3380b26 100644
--- a/src/helper_generic.py
+++ b/src/helper_generic.py
@@ -33,10 +33,5 @@ def isHostInPrivateIPRange(host):
         return True
     return False
 
-def addDataPadding(data, desiredMsgLength = 12):
-    if len(data) >= desiredMsgLength:
-        return data
-    padded = data
-    while len(padded) < desiredMsgLength:
-        padded += '\x00'
-    return padded
+def addDataPadding(data, desiredMsgLength = 12, paddingChar = '\x00'):
+    return data + paddingChar * (desiredMsgLength - len(data))