diff --git a/libavcodec/vc1dec.c b/libavcodec/vc1dec.c
index ff04508b84..2130c74109 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vc1dec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vc1dec.c
@@ -5294,7 +5294,7 @@ static av_cold int vc1_decode_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
             v->output_height > 1 << 14) return -1;
 
         if ((v->sprite_width&1) || (v->sprite_height&1)) {
-            av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "odd sprite\n");
+            av_log_ask_for_sample(avctx, "odd sprites are not supported\n");
             return AVERROR_PATCHWELCOME;
         }
     }