diff --git a/aerospike_helpers/operations/bitwise_operations.py b/aerospike_helpers/operations/bitwise_operations.py
index 6a3133e7a3..7e6f19f018 100644
--- a/aerospike_helpers/operations/bitwise_operations.py
+++ b/aerospike_helpers/operations/bitwise_operations.py
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@
 """
 import aerospike
 
+_OP_BIT_LSHIFT = aerospike.OP_BIT_LSHIFT
+
 BIN_KEY = "bin"
 BYTE_SIZE_KEY = "byte_size"
 BYTE_OFFSET_KEY = "byte_offset"
@@ -454,7 +456,7 @@ def bit_lshift(bin_name: str, bit_offset, bit_size, shift, policy=None):
         format of the dictionary should be considered an internal detail, and subject to change.
     """
     return {
-        OP_KEY: aerospike.OP_BIT_LSHIFT,
+        OP_KEY: _OP_BIT_LSHIFT,
         BIN_KEY: bin_name,
         BIT_OFFSET_KEY: bit_offset,
         BIT_SIZE_KEY: bit_size,