diff --git a/libavcodec/vc1.c b/libavcodec/vc1.c
index 0dbe48d73c..775caa69f8 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vc1.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vc1.c
@@ -896,6 +896,8 @@ int vc1_parse_frame_header_adv(VC1Context *v, GetBitContext* gb)
     v->rnd = get_bits1(gb);
     if (v->interlace)
         v->uvsamp = get_bits1(gb);
+    if(!ff_vc1_bfraction_vlc.table)
+        return 0; //parsing only, vlc tables havnt been allocated
     if (v->field_mode) {
         if (!v->refdist_flag)
             v->refdist = 0;