diff --git a/vp9/encoder/vp9_encoder.h b/vp9/encoder/vp9_encoder.h
index d4c7597c6..d735fe08b 100644
--- a/vp9/encoder/vp9_encoder.h
+++ b/vp9/encoder/vp9_encoder.h
@@ -867,9 +867,10 @@ static INLINE int denoise_svc(const struct VP9_COMP *const cpi) {
 }
 #endif
 
+#define MIN_LOOKAHEAD_FOR_ARFS 4
 static INLINE int is_altref_enabled(const VP9_COMP *const cpi) {
   return !(cpi->oxcf.mode == REALTIME && cpi->oxcf.rc_mode == VPX_CBR) &&
-         cpi->oxcf.lag_in_frames > 0 &&
+         cpi->oxcf.lag_in_frames >= MIN_LOOKAHEAD_FOR_ARFS &&
          (cpi->oxcf.enable_auto_arf &&
           (!is_two_pass_svc(cpi) ||
            cpi->oxcf.ss_enable_auto_arf[cpi->svc.spatial_layer_id]));
diff --git a/vp9/vp9_cx_iface.c b/vp9/vp9_cx_iface.c
index 876aef3e6..7b6aa4bf5 100644
--- a/vp9/vp9_cx_iface.c
+++ b/vp9/vp9_cx_iface.c
@@ -191,6 +191,13 @@ static vpx_codec_err_t validate_config(vpx_codec_alg_priv_t *ctx,
                 (MAX_LAG_BUFFERS - 1));
   }
 
+  // For formation of valid ARF groups lag_in _frames should be 0 or greater
+  // than the max_gf_interval + 2
+  if (cfg->g_lag_in_frames > 0 && extra_cfg->max_gf_interval > 0 &&
+      cfg->g_lag_in_frames < extra_cfg->max_gf_interval + 2) {
+    ERROR("Set lag in frames to 0 (low delay) or >= (max-gf-interval + 2)");
+  }
+
   if (cfg->rc_resize_allowed == 1) {
     RANGE_CHECK(cfg, rc_scaled_width, 0, cfg->g_w);
     RANGE_CHECK(cfg, rc_scaled_height, 0, cfg->g_h);