diff --git a/aerospike_helpers/operations/bitwise_operations.py b/aerospike_helpers/operations/bitwise_operations.py
index 6a3133e7a3..01d70bc510 100644
--- a/aerospike_helpers/operations/bitwise_operations.py
+++ b/aerospike_helpers/operations/bitwise_operations.py
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@
 """
 import aerospike
 
+_OP_BIT_OR = aerospike.OP_BIT_OR
+
 BIN_KEY = "bin"
 BYTE_SIZE_KEY = "byte_size"
 BYTE_OFFSET_KEY = "byte_offset"
@@ -509,7 +511,7 @@ def bit_or(bin_name: str, bit_offset, bit_size, value_byte_size, value, policy=N
         format of the dictionary should be considered an internal detail, and subject to change.
     """
     return {
-        OP_KEY: aerospike.OP_BIT_OR,
+        OP_KEY: _OP_BIT_OR,
         BIN_KEY: bin_name,
         POLICY_KEY: policy,
         BIT_OFFSET_KEY: bit_offset,