diff --git a/libavcodec/diracdec.c b/libavcodec/diracdec.c
index f74a903b3c..cf1a5c7d9d 100644
--- a/libavcodec/diracdec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/diracdec.c
@@ -1701,6 +1701,12 @@ static int dirac_decode_picture_header(DiracContext *s)
                     ff_get_buffer(s->avctx, &s->ref_pics[i]->avframe, AV_GET_BUFFER_FLAG_REF);
                     break;
                 }
+
+        if (!s->ref_pics[i]) {
+            av_log(s->avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Reference could not be allocated\n");
+            return -1;
+        }
+
     }
 
     /* retire the reference frames that are not used anymore */