diff --git a/libavcodec/ac3dec.c b/libavcodec/ac3dec.c
index e4a1e754db..3a7eec902f 100644
--- a/libavcodec/ac3dec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/ac3dec.c
@@ -824,6 +824,9 @@ static int decode_audio_block(AC3DecodeContext *s, int blk)
                     s->cpl_band_struct[bnd] = get_bits1(gbc);
                 }
             } else if (!blk) {
+                memcpy(s->cpl_band_struct,
+                       &ff_eac3_default_cpl_band_struct[cpl_begin_freq+1],
+                       s->num_cpl_subbands-1);
             }
             s->cpl_band_struct[s->num_cpl_subbands-1] = 0;
 
diff --git a/libavcodec/ac3dec.h b/libavcodec/ac3dec.h
index 9e44019b14..26d613538c 100644
--- a/libavcodec/ac3dec.h
+++ b/libavcodec/ac3dec.h
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ typedef struct {
     int phase_flags[18];                    ///< phase flags                            (phsflg)
     int num_cpl_subbands;                   ///< number of coupling sub bands           (ncplsubnd)
     int num_cpl_bands;                      ///< number of coupling bands               (ncplbnd)
-    int cpl_band_struct[18];                ///< coupling band structure                (cplbndstrc)
+    uint8_t cpl_band_struct[18];            ///< coupling band structure                (cplbndstrc)
     int firstchincpl;                       ///< first channel in coupling
     int first_cpl_coords[AC3_MAX_CHANNELS]; ///< first coupling coordinates states      (firstcplcos)
     int cpl_coords[AC3_MAX_CHANNELS][18];   ///< coupling coordinates                   (cplco)