diff --git a/libavcodec/mpeg4videodec.c b/libavcodec/mpeg4videodec.c
index 102e83f5c1..fd985f0430 100644
--- a/libavcodec/mpeg4videodec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/mpeg4videodec.c
@@ -197,10 +197,6 @@ static int mpeg4_decode_sprite_trajectory(Mpeg4DecContext *ctx, GetBitContext *g
     if (w <= 0 || h <= 0)
         return AVERROR_INVALIDDATA;
 
-    /* the decoder was not properly initialized and we cannot continue */
-    if (sprite_trajectory.table == NULL)
-        return AVERROR_INVALIDDATA;
-
     for (i = 0; i < ctx->num_sprite_warping_points; i++) {
         int length;
         int x = 0, y = 0;