diff --git a/src/gen1/Gen1GameReader.cpp b/src/gen1/Gen1GameReader.cpp
index 9cd405b..dcdab90 100644
--- a/src/gen1/Gen1GameReader.cpp
+++ b/src/gen1/Gen1GameReader.cpp
@@ -271,8 +271,6 @@ void Gen1GameReader::readColorPalette(uint8_t paletteId, uint16_t* outColorPalet
 {
     uint16_t* cur = outColorPalette;
     const uint16_t* end = cur + 4;
-    uint8_t byte1;
-    uint8_t byte2;
 
     // based on https://datacrystal.romhacking.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Red_and_Blue/ROM_map
     // and https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_color_palettes_by_index_number_(Generation_I)
@@ -280,10 +278,7 @@ void Gen1GameReader::readColorPalette(uint8_t paletteId, uint16_t* outColorPalet
     romReader_.seek(romOffset + (paletteId * 8));
     while(cur < end)
     {
-        romReader_.readByte(byte1);
-        romReader_.readByte(byte2);
-        // stored in little endian -> least significant bits of the 16 bit value are stored first
-        (*cur) = (((uint16_t)byte2 << 8) | byte1);
+        romReader_.readUint16((*cur), Endianness::LITTLE);
         ++cur;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/gen2/Gen2GameReader.cpp b/src/gen2/Gen2GameReader.cpp
index 805fbb7..22e6a3b 100644
--- a/src/gen2/Gen2GameReader.cpp
+++ b/src/gen2/Gen2GameReader.cpp
@@ -358,9 +358,9 @@ bool Gen2GameReader::readColorPaletteForPokemon(uint8_t index, bool shiny, uint1
     (*curColor) = 0x7FFF;
     ++curColor;
     // only the second and third color are actually stored in gen 2
-    romReader_.read((uint8_t *)curColor, 2);
+    romReader_.readUint16(*curColor, Endianness::LITTLE);
     ++curColor;
-    romReader_.read((uint8_t *)curColor, 2);
+    romReader_.readUint16(*curColor, Endianness::LITTLE);
     ++curColor;
     // last color is always black
     (*curColor) = 0;