diff --git a/libavcodec/put_bits.h b/libavcodec/put_bits.h
index 3849e6d339..2cae36e0b2 100644
--- a/libavcodec/put_bits.h
+++ b/libavcodec/put_bits.h
@@ -100,7 +100,8 @@ static inline void flush_put_bits(PutBitContext *s)
     align_put_bits(s);
 #else
 #ifndef BITSTREAM_WRITER_LE
-    s->bit_buf<<= s->bit_left;
+    if (s->bit_left < 32)
+        s->bit_buf<<= s->bit_left;
 #endif
     while (s->bit_left < 32) {
         /* XXX: should test end of buffer */