diff --git a/libavcodec/dcadec.c b/libavcodec/dcadec.c
index 0f7337574f..de24e4e62b 100644
--- a/libavcodec/dcadec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/dcadec.c
@@ -1256,6 +1256,7 @@ static int dca_subsubframe(DCAContext *s, int base_channel, int block_index)
 #endif
         } else {
             av_log(s->avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Didn't get subframe DSYNC\n");
+            return AVERROR_INVALIDDATA;
         }
     }