diff --git a/libavcodec/vqavideo.c b/libavcodec/vqavideo.c
index 7c1d42bcac..1d97855e60 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vqavideo.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vqavideo.c
@@ -608,13 +608,14 @@ static int vqa_decode_frame_pal8(VqaContext *s, AVFrame *frame)
         if (s->partial_countdown <= 0) {
             bytestream2_init(&s->gb, s->next_codebook_buffer, s->next_codebook_buffer_index);
             /* decompress codebook */
-            if ((res = decode_format80(s, s->next_codebook_buffer_index,
-                                       s->codebook, s->codebook_size, 0)) < 0)
-                return res;
+            res = decode_format80(s, s->next_codebook_buffer_index,
+                                  s->codebook, s->codebook_size, 0);
 
             /* reset accounting */
             s->next_codebook_buffer_index = 0;
             s->partial_countdown = s->partial_count;
+            if (res < 0)
+                return res;
         }
     }