diff --git a/src/parsers/bitstream.c b/src/parsers/bitstream.c
index bc3218b6..73f7e189 100644
--- a/src/parsers/bitstream.c
+++ b/src/parsers/bitstream.c
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ read_golomb_ue(bitstream_t *bs)
   for(b = 0; !b && !bs_eof(bs); lzb++)
     b = read_bits1(bs);
 
+  if (lzb < 0)
+    return 0;
   return (1 << lzb) - 1 + read_bits(bs, lzb);
 }