diff --git a/aerospike_helpers/operations/bitwise_operations.py b/aerospike_helpers/operations/bitwise_operations.py
index 6a3133e7a3..fbc34bd992 100644
--- a/aerospike_helpers/operations/bitwise_operations.py
+++ b/aerospike_helpers/operations/bitwise_operations.py
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@
 """
 import aerospike
 
+_OP_BIT_COUNT = aerospike.OP_BIT_COUNT
+
 BIN_KEY = "bin"
 BYTE_SIZE_KEY = "byte_size"
 BYTE_OFFSET_KEY = "byte_offset"
@@ -275,7 +277,7 @@ def bit_count(bin_name: str, bit_offset, bit_size):
         A dictionary usable in operate or operate_ordered. The format of the dictionary
         should be considered an internal detail, and subject to change.
     """
-    return {OP_KEY: aerospike.OP_BIT_COUNT, BIN_KEY: bin_name, BIT_OFFSET_KEY: bit_offset, BIT_SIZE_KEY: bit_size}
+    return {OP_KEY: _OP_BIT_COUNT, BIN_KEY: bin_name, BIT_OFFSET_KEY: bit_offset, BIT_SIZE_KEY: bit_size}
 
 
 def bit_add(bin_name: str, bit_offset, bit_size, value, sign, action, policy=None):