diff --git a/include/rtcp.hh b/include/rtcp.hh
index 27e984d..b0929ff 100644
--- a/include/rtcp.hh
+++ b/include/rtcp.hh
@@ -357,6 +357,9 @@ namespace uvgrtp {
             rtp_error_t construct_rtcp_header(size_t packet_size, uint8_t*& frame,
                 uint16_t secondField, uvgrtp::frame::RTCP_FRAME_TYPE frame_type, bool addLocalSSRC);
 
+            /* read the header values from rtcp packet */
+            void read_rtcp_header(uint8_t* packet, uvgrtp::frame::rtcp_header& header, bool app);
+
             /* Pointer to RTP context from which clock rate etc. info is collected and which is
              * used to change SSRC if a collision is detected */
             uvgrtp::rtp *rtp_;
diff --git a/src/rtcp.cc b/src/rtcp.cc
index 16228e8..9fb555f 100644
--- a/src/rtcp.cc
+++ b/src/rtcp.cc
@@ -543,4 +543,16 @@ rtp_error_t uvgrtp::rtcp::construct_rtcp_header(size_t packet_size,
     }
 
     return RTP_OK;
+}
+
+void uvgrtp::rtcp::read_rtcp_header(uint8_t* packet, uvgrtp::frame::rtcp_header& header, bool app)
+{
+    header.version = (packet[0] >> 6) & 0x3;
+    header.padding = (packet[0] >> 5) & 0x1;
+    if (app)
+        header.pkt_subtype = packet[0] & 0x1f;
+    else
+        header.count = packet[0] & 0x1f;
+
+    header.length = ntohs(*(uint16_t*)&packet[2]);
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/rtcp/app.cc b/src/rtcp/app.cc
index bf48389..18d010a 100644
--- a/src/rtcp/app.cc
+++ b/src/rtcp/app.cc
@@ -29,14 +29,10 @@ rtp_error_t uvgrtp::rtcp::handle_app_packet(uint8_t *packet, size_t size)
         return RTP_INVALID_VALUE;
 
     auto frame = new uvgrtp::frame::rtcp_app_packet;
-    auto ret   = RTP_OK;
-
-    frame->header.version     = (packet[0] >> 6) & 0x3;
-    frame->header.padding     = (packet[0] >> 5) & 0x1;
-    frame->header.pkt_subtype = packet[0] & 0x1f;
-    frame->header.length      = ntohs(*(uint16_t *)&packet[2]);
+    read_rtcp_header(packet, frame->header, true);
     frame->ssrc               = ntohl(*(uint32_t *)&packet[4]);
 
+    auto ret = RTP_OK;
     if (srtcp_ && (ret = srtcp_->handle_rtcp_decryption(flags_, frame->ssrc, packet, size)) != RTP_OK)
         return ret;
 
diff --git a/src/rtcp/receiver.cc b/src/rtcp/receiver.cc
index 5ea664a..017a939 100644
--- a/src/rtcp/receiver.cc
+++ b/src/rtcp/receiver.cc
@@ -29,14 +29,10 @@ rtp_error_t uvgrtp::rtcp::handle_receiver_report_packet(uint8_t *packet, size_t
         return RTP_INVALID_VALUE;
 
     auto frame = new uvgrtp::frame::rtcp_receiver_report;
-    auto ret   = RTP_OK;
-
-    frame->header.version = (packet[0] >> 6) & 0x3;
-    frame->header.padding = (packet[0] >> 5) & 0x1;
-    frame->header.count   = packet[0] & 0x1f;
-    frame->header.length  = ntohs(*(uint16_t *)&packet[2]);
+    read_rtcp_header(packet, frame->header, false);
     frame->ssrc           = ntohl(*(uint32_t *)&packet[4]);
 
+    auto ret = RTP_OK;
     if (srtcp_ && (ret = srtcp_->handle_rtcp_decryption(flags_, frame->ssrc, packet, size)) != RTP_OK)
         return ret;
 
diff --git a/src/rtcp/sdes.cc b/src/rtcp/sdes.cc
index 287ccf7..637883e 100644
--- a/src/rtcp/sdes.cc
+++ b/src/rtcp/sdes.cc
@@ -29,14 +29,10 @@ rtp_error_t uvgrtp::rtcp::handle_sdes_packet(uint8_t *packet, size_t size)
         return RTP_INVALID_VALUE;
 
     auto frame = new uvgrtp::frame::rtcp_sdes_packet;
-    auto ret   = RTP_OK;
-
-    frame->header.version = (packet[0] >> 6) & 0x3;
-    frame->header.padding = (packet[0] >> 5) & 0x1;
-    frame->header.count   = packet[0] & 0x1f;
-    frame->header.length  = ntohs(*(uint16_t *)&packet[2]);
+    read_rtcp_header(packet, frame->header, false);
     frame->ssrc           = ntohl(*(uint32_t *)&packet[4]);
 
+    auto ret = RTP_OK;
     if (srtcp_ && (ret = srtcp_->handle_rtcp_decryption(flags_, frame->ssrc, packet, size)) != RTP_OK)
         return ret;
 
diff --git a/src/rtcp/sender.cc b/src/rtcp/sender.cc
index b614c0d..5a626f0 100644
--- a/src/rtcp/sender.cc
+++ b/src/rtcp/sender.cc
@@ -29,14 +29,10 @@ rtp_error_t uvgrtp::rtcp::handle_sender_report_packet(uint8_t *packet, size_t si
         return RTP_INVALID_VALUE;
 
     auto frame = new uvgrtp::frame::rtcp_sender_report;
-    auto ret   = RTP_OK;
-
-    frame->header.version = (packet[0] >> 6) & 0x3;
-    frame->header.padding = (packet[0] >> 5) & 0x1;
-    frame->header.count   = packet[0] & 0x1f;
-    frame->header.length  = ntohs(*(uint16_t *)&packet[2]);
+    read_rtcp_header(packet, frame->header, false);
     frame->ssrc           = ntohl(*(uint32_t *)&packet[4]);
 
+    auto ret = RTP_OK;
     if (srtcp_ && (ret = srtcp_->handle_rtcp_decryption(flags_, frame->ssrc, packet, size)) != RTP_OK)
         return ret;