diff --git a/mne/io/edf/edf.py b/mne/io/edf/edf.py
index 778102c28b4..04e070f3670 100644
--- a/mne/io/edf/edf.py
+++ b/mne/io/edf/edf.py
@@ -1440,9 +1440,7 @@ def _read_gdf_header(fname, exclude, include=None):
                     n_events = np.fromfile(fid, UINT32, 1)[0]
                 else:
                     ne = np.fromfile(fid, UINT8, 3)
-                    n_events = ne[0]
-                    for i in range(1, len(ne)):
-                        n_events = n_events + ne[i] * 2 ** (i * 8)
+                    n_events = ne[0] + (ne[1] << 8) + (ne[2] << 16)
                     event_sr = np.fromfile(fid, FLOAT32, 1)[0]
 
                 pos = np.fromfile(fid, UINT32, n_events) - 1  # 1-based inds