diff --git a/eventio/simtel/objects.py b/eventio/simtel/objects.py
index 1143baf..b3cf07f 100644
--- a/eventio/simtel/objects.py
+++ b/eventio/simtel/objects.py
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ class HistoryMeta(EventIOObject):
     eventio_type = 75
 
     def parse(self):
-        n_items = read_varint(self)
+        n_items = read_unsigned_varint(self)
+
         data = {}
         for _ in range(n_items):
             k = read_var_string(self)
diff --git a/tests/simtel/test_simtel_objects.py b/tests/simtel/test_simtel_objects.py
index e6d810c..67e6a56 100644
--- a/tests/simtel/test_simtel_objects.py
+++ b/tests/simtel/test_simtel_objects.py
@@ -86,7 +86,10 @@ def test_75():
 
             if n_found == 0:
                 assert 'global' in str(o)
-                assert len(data) == 0
+                assert len(data) == 11
+                assert b'CONFIG_RELEASE' in data
+                assert data[b'SIMTEL_RELEASE'] == b'2021-12-16 (development beyond prod-5)'
+                assert data[b'SIMTEL_BASE_RELEASE'] == b'2021-12-16 (development beyond prod-5)'
             else:
                 assert f'telescope_id={n_found}' in str(o)
                 assert b'OPTICS_CONFIG_NAME' in data
diff --git a/tests/simtel/test_simtelfile.py b/tests/simtel/test_simtelfile.py
index 9ebf3d9..b88a217 100644
--- a/tests/simtel/test_simtelfile.py
+++ b/tests/simtel/test_simtelfile.py
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ def test_photons():
 
 def test_history_meta():
     with SimTelFile(history_meta_path) as f:
-        assert isinstance(f.global_meta, dict) 
-        assert isinstance(f.telescope_meta, dict) 
+        assert isinstance(f.global_meta, dict)
+        assert isinstance(f.telescope_meta, dict)
+        assert len(f.global_meta) == 11
         assert len(f.telescope_meta) == 19