diff --git a/packages/client/lib/net/protocol/rlpxsender.ts b/packages/client/lib/net/protocol/rlpxsender.ts
index 1d3a0b685a..bdf49d188a 100644
--- a/packages/client/lib/net/protocol/rlpxsender.ts
+++ b/packages/client/lib/net/protocol/rlpxsender.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ export class RlpxSender extends Sender {
    */
   sendMessage(code: number, data: any) {
     try {
-      this.sender._send(code, rlp.encode(data))
+      //@ts-ignore "type number is not assignable to type never"
+      this.sender.sendMessage(code, data)
     } catch (err) {
       this.emit('error', err)
     }
diff --git a/packages/client/test/net/protocol/rlpxsender.spec.ts b/packages/client/test/net/protocol/rlpxsender.spec.ts
index 8906300274..37088a3650 100644
--- a/packages/client/test/net/protocol/rlpxsender.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/client/test/net/protocol/rlpxsender.spec.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ tape('[RlpxSender]', (t) => {
     const rlpxProtocol = td.object() as any
     const sender = new RlpxSender(rlpxProtocol)
     sender.sendMessage(1, 5)
-    td.verify(rlpxProtocol._send(1, rlp.encode(5)))
+    td.verify(rlpxProtocol.sendMessage(1, 5))
     td.reset()
     t.pass('message sent')
     t.end()