diff --git a/libavcodec/pixlet.c b/libavcodec/pixlet.c
index a9cfe085c9..aa7ef55b7d 100644
--- a/libavcodec/pixlet.c
+++ b/libavcodec/pixlet.c
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ static int read_high_coeffs(AVCodecContext *avctx, uint8_t *src, int16_t *dst, i
     length = 25 - nbits;
 
     while (i < size) {
-        if (state >> 8 != -3) {
+        if (((state >> 8) + 3) & 0xFFFFFFF) {
             value = ff_clz((state >> 8) + 3) ^ 0x1F;
         } else {
             value = -1;