diff --git a/libavcodec/bitstream.c b/libavcodec/bitstream.c
index 6bcdadb9c4..6598d3e397 100644
--- a/libavcodec/bitstream.c
+++ b/libavcodec/bitstream.c
@@ -305,6 +305,10 @@ int ff_init_vlc_sparse(VLC *vlc, int nb_bits, int nb_codes,
         GET_DATA(buf[j].bits, bits, i, bits_wrap, bits_size);\
         if (!(condition))\
             continue;\
+        if (buf[j].bits > 3*nb_bits || buf[j].bits>32) {\
+            av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Too long VLC in init_vlc\n");\
+            return -1;\
+        }\
         GET_DATA(buf[j].code, codes, i, codes_wrap, codes_size);\
         if (flags & INIT_VLC_LE)\
             buf[j].code = bitswap_32(buf[j].code);\