diff --git a/libavcodec/vc1.c b/libavcodec/vc1.c
index cacb66b15b..9b4e951baa 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vc1.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vc1.c
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ static void rotate_luts(VC1Context *v)
 static int read_bfraction(VC1Context *v, GetBitContext* gb) {
     int bfraction_lut_index = get_vlc2(gb, ff_vc1_bfraction_vlc.table, VC1_BFRACTION_VLC_BITS, 1);
 
-    if (bfraction_lut_index == 21 || bfraction_lut_index < 0) {
+    if (bfraction_lut_index == 21) {
         av_log(v->s.avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "bfraction invalid\n");
         return AVERROR_INVALIDDATA;
     }