diff --git a/libavcodec/tmv.c b/libavcodec/tmv.c
index 0eedc258c3..6aa76fbcc3 100644
--- a/libavcodec/tmv.c
+++ b/libavcodec/tmv.c
@@ -47,9 +47,6 @@ static int tmv_decode_frame(AVCodecContext *avctx, AVFrame *frame,
     unsigned x, y, fg, bg, c;
     int ret;
 
-    if ((ret = ff_get_buffer(avctx, frame, 0)) < 0)
-        return ret;
-
     if (avpkt->size < 2*char_rows*char_cols) {
         av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR,
                "Input buffer too small, truncated sample?\n");
@@ -57,6 +54,9 @@ static int tmv_decode_frame(AVCodecContext *avctx, AVFrame *frame,
         return AVERROR_INVALIDDATA;
     }
 
+    if ((ret = ff_get_buffer(avctx, frame, 0)) < 0)
+        return ret;
+
     dst              = frame->data[0];
 
     memcpy(frame->data[1], ff_cga_palette, 16 * 4);