diff --git a/libavcodec/svq3.c b/libavcodec/svq3.c
index 683b9dc948..34cda3283c 100644
--- a/libavcodec/svq3.c
+++ b/libavcodec/svq3.c
@@ -956,7 +956,8 @@ static av_cold int svq3_decode_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
                 int offset                = get_bits_count(&gb) + 7 >> 3;
                 uint8_t *buf;
 
-                if ((uint64_t)watermark_width * 4 > UINT_MAX / watermark_height)
+                if (watermark_height > 0 &&
+                    (uint64_t)watermark_width * 4 > UINT_MAX / watermark_height)
                     return -1;
 
                 buf = av_malloc(buf_len);