diff --git a/shared-bindings/_pixelbuf/PixelBuf.c b/shared-bindings/_pixelbuf/PixelBuf.c
index f4f6c83b2c..90210d4f3a 100644
--- a/shared-bindings/_pixelbuf/PixelBuf.c
+++ b/shared-bindings/_pixelbuf/PixelBuf.c
@@ -101,7 +101,11 @@ STATIC mp_obj_t pixelbuf_pixelbuf_make_new(const mp_obj_type_t *type, size_t n_a
     else 
         byteorder = mp_obj_str_get_data(args[ARG_byteorder].u_obj, &bo_len);
 
-    byteorder_details.bpp = strlen(byteorder);
+    if (bo_len < 3 || bo_len > 4)
+        mp_raise_ValueError(translate("Invalid byteorder string"));
+    strncpy(byteorder_details.order, byteorder, sizeof(byteorder_details.order));
+
+    byteorder_details.bpp = bo_len;
     char *dotstar = strchr(byteorder, 'D');
     char *r = strchr(byteorder, 'R');
     char *g = strchr(byteorder, 'G');
@@ -344,13 +348,13 @@ const mp_obj_property_t pixelbuf_pixelbuf_buf_obj = {
 STATIC mp_obj_t pixelbuf_pixelbuf_obj_get_byteorder(mp_obj_t self_in) {
     mp_check_self(MP_OBJ_IS_TYPE(self_in, &pixelbuf_pixelbuf_type));
     pixelbuf_pixelbuf_obj_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR(self_in);
-    return &self->byteorder;
+    return mp_obj_new_str(self->byteorder.order, strlen(self->byteorder.order));
 }
-MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_1(pixelbuf_pixelbuf_get_byteorder_obj, pixelbuf_pixelbuf_obj_get_byteorder);
+MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_1(pixelbuf_pixelbuf_get_byteorder_str, pixelbuf_pixelbuf_obj_get_byteorder);
 
-const mp_obj_property_t pixelbuf_pixelbuf_byteorder_obj = {
+const mp_obj_property_t pixelbuf_pixelbuf_byteorder_str = {
     .base.type = &mp_type_property,
-    .proxy = {(mp_obj_t)&pixelbuf_pixelbuf_get_byteorder_obj,
+    .proxy = {(mp_obj_t)&pixelbuf_pixelbuf_get_byteorder_str,
               (mp_obj_t)&mp_const_none_obj,
               (mp_obj_t)&mp_const_none_obj},
 };
@@ -479,7 +483,7 @@ STATIC const mp_rom_map_elem_t pixelbuf_pixelbuf_locals_dict_table[] = {
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_bpp), MP_ROM_PTR(&pixelbuf_pixelbuf_bpp_obj)},
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_brightness), MP_ROM_PTR(&pixelbuf_pixelbuf_brightness_obj)},
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_buf), MP_ROM_PTR(&pixelbuf_pixelbuf_buf_obj)},
-    { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_byteorder), MP_ROM_PTR(&pixelbuf_pixelbuf_byteorder_obj)},
+    { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_byteorder), MP_ROM_PTR(&pixelbuf_pixelbuf_byteorder_str)},
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_show), MP_ROM_PTR(&pixelbuf_pixelbuf_show_obj)},
 };
 
diff --git a/shared-bindings/_pixelbuf/types.h b/shared-bindings/_pixelbuf/types.h
index 7d772dbf53..39e49935fa 100644
--- a/shared-bindings/_pixelbuf/types.h
+++ b/shared-bindings/_pixelbuf/types.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ typedef struct {
     pixelbuf_rgbw_t byteorder;
     bool has_white;
     bool is_dotstar;
+    char order[5];
 } pixelbuf_byteorder_details_t;
 
 #endif // CIRCUITPYTHON_PIXELBUF_TYPES_H