diff --git a/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md b/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
index c86b4b6b5..e2ed64cf1 100644
--- a/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
+++ b/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
@@ -698,10 +698,7 @@ def get_merkle_branch(index: uint256) -> bytes32[32]: # size is DEPOSIT_CONTRACT
     idx: uint256 = index + TWO_TO_POWER_OF_TREE_DEPTH
     ret: bytes32[32] # size is DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH
     for i in range(DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH):
-        if idx % 2 == 1:
-            ret[i] = self.deposit_tree[idx - 1]
-        else:
-            ret[i] = self.deposit_tree[idx + 1]
+        ret[i] = self.deposit_tree[bitwise_xor(idx,1)]
         idx /= 2
     return ret
 ```