diff --git a/libavcodec/svq3.c b/libavcodec/svq3.c
index 82fa632712..a345788fb5 100644
--- a/libavcodec/svq3.c
+++ b/libavcodec/svq3.c
@@ -980,7 +980,8 @@ static av_cold int svq3_decode_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
             int offset                = get_bits_count(&gb) + 7 >> 3;
             uint8_t *buf;
 
-            if ((uint64_t)watermark_width * 4 > UINT_MAX / watermark_height)
+            if (watermark_height > 0 &&
+                (uint64_t)watermark_width * 4 > UINT_MAX / watermark_height)
                 return -1;
 
             buf = av_malloc(buf_len);