diff --git a/libavcodec/h264.c b/libavcodec/h264.c
index 002477b8eb..f3a47fe8c0 100644
--- a/libavcodec/h264.c
+++ b/libavcodec/h264.c
@@ -3121,8 +3121,13 @@ static int decode_slice_header(H264Context *h, H264Context *h0){
 
         if(num_ref_idx_active_override_flag){
             h->ref_count[0]= get_ue_golomb(&s->gb) + 1;
-            if(h->slice_type_nos==AV_PICTURE_TYPE_B)
+            if (h->ref_count[0] < 1)
+                return AVERROR_INVALIDDATA;
+            if (h->slice_type_nos == AV_PICTURE_TYPE_B) {
                 h->ref_count[1]= get_ue_golomb(&s->gb) + 1;
+                if (h->ref_count[1] < 1)
+                    return AVERROR_INVALIDDATA;
+            }
         }
 
         if (h->ref_count[0] > max_refs || h->ref_count[1] > max_refs) {