diff --git a/scapy/layers/dhcp.py b/scapy/layers/dhcp.py
index c5bab7ee48bcaafa60c3225e9608a954cf7066d7..66d27722963a5fc1ae79e837cff017647a173fb1 100644
--- a/scapy/layers/dhcp.py
+++ b/scapy/layers/dhcp.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ DHCPOptions = {
     51: IntField("lease_time", 43200),
     54: IPField("server_id","0.0.0.0"),
     55: "param_req_list",
-    56: StrField("error_message", ""),
+    56: "error_message",
     57: ShortField("max_dhcp_size", 1500),
     58: IntField("renewal_time", 21600),
     59: IntField("rebinding_time", 37800),