diff --git a/libavcodec/motionpixels.c b/libavcodec/motionpixels.c
index a88b837b3e..73977664a5 100644
--- a/libavcodec/motionpixels.c
+++ b/libavcodec/motionpixels.c
@@ -201,6 +201,8 @@ static int mp_get_vlc(MotionPixelsContext *mp, GetBitContext *gb)
     int i;
 
     i = (mp->codes_count == 1) ? 0 : get_vlc2(gb, mp->vlc.table, mp->max_codes_bits, 1);
+    if (i < 0)
+        return i;
     return mp->codes[i].delta;
 }