diff --git a/src/mesh/model/mesh-information-element-vector.cc b/src/mesh/model/mesh-information-element-vector.cc
index 86b1bb5d5..f4b119424 100644
--- a/src/mesh/model/mesh-information-element-vector.cc
+++ b/src/mesh/model/mesh-information-element-vector.cc
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ MeshInformationElementVector::DeserializeSingleIe (Buffer::Iterator start)
   Buffer::Iterator i = start;
   uint8_t id = i.ReadU8 ();
   uint8_t length = i.ReadU8 ();
+  i.Prev (2);
   Ptr<WifiInformationElement> newElement;
   switch (id)
     {
@@ -103,17 +104,13 @@ MeshInformationElementVector::DeserializeSingleIe (Buffer::Iterator start)
       newElement = Create<dot11s::IePeeringProtocol> ();
       break;
     default:
-      // We peeked at the ID and length, so we need to back up the
-      // pointer before deferring to our parent.
-      i.Prev (2);
       return WifiInformationElementVector::DeserializeSingleIe (i);
     }
   if (GetSize () + length > m_maxSize)
     {
       NS_FATAL_ERROR ("Check max size for information element!");
     }
-  newElement->DeserializeInformationField (i, length);
-  i.Next (length);
+  i = newElement->Deserialize (i);
   m_elements.push_back (newElement);
   return i.GetDistanceFrom (start);
 }
diff --git a/src/wifi/model/wifi-information-element.h b/src/wifi/model/wifi-information-element.h
index 514cc609f..bef8b204d 100644
--- a/src/wifi/model/wifi-information-element.h
+++ b/src/wifi/model/wifi-information-element.h
@@ -292,25 +292,6 @@ public:
    * \return the length of serialized information
    */
   virtual uint8_t GetInformationFieldSize () const = 0;
-  /**
-   * Serialize information (i.e., the body of the IE, not including
-   * the Element ID and length octets)
-   *
-   * \param start an iterator which points to where the information should
-   *        be written.
-   */
-  virtual void SerializeInformationField (Buffer::Iterator start) const = 0;
-  /**
-   * Deserialize information (i.e., the body of the IE, not including
-   * the Element ID and length octets)
-   *
-   * \param start an iterator which points to where the information should be written.
-   * \param length
-   *
-   * \return the number of bytes read
-   */
-  virtual uint8_t DeserializeInformationField (Buffer::Iterator start,
-                                               uint8_t length) = 0;
 
   /**
    * Get the wifi information element ID extension
@@ -336,6 +317,26 @@ public:
    */
   virtual bool operator== (WifiInformationElement const & a) const;
 
+private:
+  /**
+   * Serialize information (i.e., the body of the IE, not including
+   * the Element ID and length octets)
+   *
+   * \param start an iterator which points to where the information should
+   *        be written.
+   */
+  virtual void SerializeInformationField (Buffer::Iterator start) const = 0;
+  /**
+   * Deserialize information (i.e., the body of the IE, not including
+   * the Element ID and length octets)
+   *
+   * \param start an iterator which points to where the information should be written.
+   * \param length
+   *
+   * \return the number of bytes read
+   */
+  virtual uint8_t DeserializeInformationField (Buffer::Iterator start,
+                                               uint8_t length) = 0;
 };
 
 } //namespace ns3