diff --git a/libavcodec/mpegaudio.c b/libavcodec/mpegaudio.c
index aa93442d57..c8f25d114e 100644
--- a/libavcodec/mpegaudio.c
+++ b/libavcodec/mpegaudio.c
@@ -70,8 +70,10 @@ static int MPA_encode_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
     int i, v, table;
     float a;
 
-    if (channels > 2)
+    if (channels <= 0 || channels > 2){
+        av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "encoding %d channel(s) is not allowed in mp2\n", channels);
         return -1;
+    }
     bitrate = bitrate / 1000;
     s->nb_channels = channels;
     s->freq = freq;