diff --git a/adafruit_rgb_display/rgb.py b/adafruit_rgb_display/rgb.py
index 01f9f26..c4fdcec 100644
--- a/adafruit_rgb_display/rgb.py
+++ b/adafruit_rgb_display/rgb.py
@@ -131,10 +131,11 @@ def _write(self, command=None, data=None):
                 spi.write(data)
 
     def _read(self, command=None, count=0):
+        data = bytearray(count)
         self.dc.value = 0
         with self.spi_device as spi:
             if command is not None:
                 spi.write(bytearray([command]))
             if count:
-                data = spi.read(count)
-            return data
+                spi.readinto(data)
+        return data