diff --git a/libavcodec/vlc.c b/libavcodec/vlc.c
index ee09d96fd6..f46ecbb55e 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vlc.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vlc.c
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ int ff_vlc_init_multi_from_lengths(VLC *vlc, VLC_MULTI *multi, int nb_bits, int
 
     multi->table = av_malloc(sizeof(*multi->table) << nb_bits);
     if (!multi->table)
-        return AVERROR(ENOMEM);
+        goto fail;
 
     j = code = 0;
     for (int i = 0; i < nb_codes; i++, lens += lens_wrap) {