diff --git a/libavcodec/snowdec.c b/libavcodec/snowdec.c
index 1dccc638d8..58a80b39c6 100644
--- a/libavcodec/snowdec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/snowdec.c
@@ -327,6 +327,11 @@ static int decode_header(SnowContext *s){
         return -1;
     }
 
+    if (s->chroma_h_shift != 1 || s->chroma_v_shift != 1) {
+        av_log(s->avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Invalid chroma shift\n");
+        return AVERROR_PATCHWELCOME;
+    }
+
     s->qlog           += get_symbol(&s->c, s->header_state, 1);
     s->mv_scale       += get_symbol(&s->c, s->header_state, 1);
     s->qbias          += get_symbol(&s->c, s->header_state, 1);