diff --git a/ext/hls/m3u8.c b/ext/hls/m3u8.c
index 7796e7698c..5bdcc4b135 100644
--- a/ext/hls/m3u8.c
+++ b/ext/hls/m3u8.c
@@ -214,53 +214,6 @@ gst_m3u8_compare_playlist_by_bitrate (gconstpointer a, gconstpointer b)
   return ((GstM3U8 *) (a))->bandwidth - ((GstM3U8 *) (b))->bandwidth;
 }
 
-static gint
-hex_char_to_int (const gchar * v)
-{
-  switch (*v) {
-    case '0':
-      return 0;
-    case '1':
-      return 1;
-    case '2':
-      return 2;
-    case '3':
-      return 3;
-    case '4':
-      return 4;
-    case '5':
-      return 5;
-    case '6':
-      return 6;
-    case '7':
-      return 7;
-    case '8':
-      return 8;
-    case '9':
-      return 9;
-    case 'A':
-    case 'a':
-      return 0xa;
-    case 'B':
-    case 'b':
-      return 0xb;
-    case 'C':
-    case 'c':
-      return 0xc;
-    case 'D':
-    case 'd':
-      return 0xd;
-    case 'E':
-    case 'e':
-      return 0xe;
-    case 'F':
-    case 'f':
-      return 0xf;
-    default:
-      return -1;
-  }
-}
-
 /*
  * @data: a m3u8 playlist text data, taking ownership
  */
@@ -451,14 +404,17 @@ gst_m3u8_update (GstM3U8 * self, gchar * data, gboolean * updated)
           for (i = 0; i < 16; i++) {
             gint h, l;
 
-            h = hex_char_to_int (ivp++);
-            l = hex_char_to_int (ivp++);
+            h = g_ascii_xdigit_value (*ivp);
+            ivp++;
+            l = g_ascii_xdigit_value (*ivp);
+            ivp++;
             if (h == -1 || l == -1) {
               i = -1;
               break;
             }
             iv[i] = (h << 4) | l;
           }
+
           if (i == -1) {
             GST_WARNING ("Can't read IV");
             continue;