diff --git a/tools/decode_simple.c b/tools/decode_simple.c
index 6532e368d4..e8c1d6a407 100644
--- a/tools/decode_simple.c
+++ b/tools/decode_simple.c
@@ -94,8 +94,9 @@ int ds_run(DecodeContext *dc)
             goto finish;
     }
 
-    avcodec_send_packet(dc->decoder, NULL);
-    ret = decode_read(dc, 1);
+    ret = avcodec_send_packet(dc->decoder, NULL);
+    if (ret >= 0)
+        ret = decode_read(dc, 1);
     if (ret < 0) {
         fprintf(stderr, "Error flushing: %d\n", ret);
         return ret;