diff --git a/neopixel.py b/neopixel.py
index f4f3b49..9840700 100644
--- a/neopixel.py
+++ b/neopixel.py
@@ -145,7 +145,10 @@ def _set_item(self, index, value):
                 g = 0
                 b = 0
         elif (len(value) == self.bpp) or ((len(value) == 3) and (self.bpp == 4)):
-            r, g, b, w = value if len(value) == 4 else value+(0,)
+            if len(value) == 3:
+                r, g, b = value
+            else:
+                r, g, b, w = value
         else:
             raise ValueError("Color tuple size does not match pixel_order.")