diff --git a/libavcodec/h264_cavlc.c b/libavcodec/h264_cavlc.c
index ef92218b4f..7da645dcd3 100644
--- a/libavcodec/h264_cavlc.c
+++ b/libavcodec/h264_cavlc.c
@@ -431,8 +431,13 @@ static int decode_residual(H264Context *h, GetBitContext *gb, DCTELEM *block, in
                     level_code= prefix + get_bits(gb, 4); //part
             }else{
                 level_code= 30 + get_bits(gb, prefix-3); //part
-                if(prefix>=16)
+                if(prefix>=16){
+                    if(prefix > 25+3){
+                        av_log(h->s.avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Invalid level prefix\n");
+                        return -1;
+                    }
                     level_code += (1<<(prefix-3))-4096;
+                }
             }
 
             if(trailing_ones < 3) level_code += 2;