diff --git a/libavcodec/mpegvideo.c b/libavcodec/mpegvideo.c
index bc8ad7fb57..30aa86d6df 100644
--- a/libavcodec/mpegvideo.c
+++ b/libavcodec/mpegvideo.c
@@ -2535,7 +2535,7 @@ vbv_retry:
             RateControlContext *rcc= &s->rc_context;
             int max_size= rcc->buffer_index/3;
 
-            if(put_bits_count(&s->pb) > max_size && s->qscale < s->avctx->qmax){
+            if(put_bits_count(&s->pb) > max_size && s->lambda < s->avctx->lmax){
                 s->next_lambda= FFMAX(s->lambda+1, s->lambda*(s->qscale+1) / s->qscale);
                 s->mb_skipped = 0;        //done in MPV_frame_start()
                 if(s->pict_type==P_TYPE){ //done in encode_picture() so we must undo it