diff --git a/vp9/encoder/vp9_encodeframe.c b/vp9/encoder/vp9_encodeframe.c
index 175856b8b..a0a7ff51d 100644
--- a/vp9/encoder/vp9_encodeframe.c
+++ b/vp9/encoder/vp9_encodeframe.c
@@ -1012,7 +1012,8 @@ static uint64_t avg_source_sad(VP9_COMP *cpi, MACROBLOCK *x, int shift,
 
   // Detect large lighting change.
   if (cpi->oxcf.content != VP9E_CONTENT_SCREEN &&
-      tmp_variance < (tmp_sse >> 3) && (tmp_sse - tmp_variance) > 10000)
+      cpi->oxcf.rc_mode == VPX_CBR && tmp_variance < (tmp_sse >> 3) &&
+      (tmp_sse - tmp_variance) > 10000)
     x->content_state_sb = kLowVarHighSumdiff;
   else if (tmp_sad > (avg_source_sad_threshold << 1))
     x->content_state_sb = kVeryHighSad;