diff --git a/mcstatus/pinger.py b/mcstatus/pinger.py
index 5fa6f73..f32a6da 100644
--- a/mcstatus/pinger.py
+++ b/mcstatus/pinger.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class ServerPinger:
         packet.write_varint(0)
         packet.write_varint(self.version)
         packet.write_utf(self.host)
-        packet.write_short(self.port)
+        packet.write_ushort(self.port)
         packet.write_varint(1)  # Intention to query status
 
         self.connection.write_buffer(packet)
@@ -143,4 +143,4 @@ class PingResponse:
         else:
             self.favicon = None
 
-        self.latency = None
\ No newline at end of file
+        self.latency = None