diff --git a/zenith_utils/src/pq_proto.rs b/zenith_utils/src/pq_proto.rs
index 52c194b740..1848a0d237 100644
--- a/zenith_utils/src/pq_proto.rs
+++ b/zenith_utils/src/pq_proto.rs
@@ -730,8 +730,9 @@ impl<'a> BeMessage<'a> {
             }
 
             BeMessage::KeepAlive(req) => {
-                buf.put_u8(b'k');
+                buf.put_u8(b'd');
                 write_body(buf, |buf| {
+					buf.put_u8(b'k');
                     buf.put_u64(req.sent_ptr);
                     buf.put_i64(req.timestamp);
                     buf.put_u8(if req.request_reply { 1u8 } else { 0u8 });