diff --git a/libavcodec/qtrle.c b/libavcodec/qtrle.c
index e96e2788c9..613dcaea49 100644
--- a/libavcodec/qtrle.c
+++ b/libavcodec/qtrle.c
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ static av_cold int qtrle_decode_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
     default:
         av_log (avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Unsupported colorspace: %d bits/sample?\n",
             avctx->bits_per_coded_sample);
-        break;
+        return AVERROR_INVALIDDATA;
     }
 
     s->frame.data[0] = NULL;