diff --git a/libavcodec/utvideodec.c b/libavcodec/utvideodec.c
index 05c943f808..b565c1076c 100644
--- a/libavcodec/utvideodec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/utvideodec.c
@@ -56,13 +56,14 @@ static int build_huff(const uint8_t *src, VLC *vlc, int *fsym)
         *fsym = he[0].sym;
         return 0;
     }
-    if (he[0].len > 32)
-        return -1;
 
     last = 255;
     while (he[last].len == 255 && last)
         last--;
 
+    if (he[last].len > 32)
+        return -1;
+
     code = 1;
     for (i = last; i >= 0; i--) {
         codes[i] = code >> (32 - he[i].len);