diff --git a/libavcodec/h263dec.c b/libavcodec/h263dec.c
index 8bbd3a7580..e2c4d208d9 100644
--- a/libavcodec/h263dec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/h263dec.c
@@ -107,6 +107,10 @@ static int h263_decode_frame(AVCodecContext *avctx,
     if (ret < 0)
         return -1;
 
+    /* make sure we start with an I-Frame */
+    if (!s->slice_height && (s->pict_type != I_TYPE))
+        return -1;
+
     MPV_frame_start(s);
 
 #ifdef DEBUG