diff --git a/modules/imgcodecs/src/grfmt_bmp.cpp b/modules/imgcodecs/src/grfmt_bmp.cpp
index 3c7edf0f98..45e02ceae6 100644
--- a/modules/imgcodecs/src/grfmt_bmp.cpp
+++ b/modules/imgcodecs/src/grfmt_bmp.cpp
@@ -375,6 +375,9 @@ decode_rle4_bad: ;
                                                 gray_palette[code] );
 
                         line_end_flag = y - prev_y;
+
+                        if( y >= m_height )
+                            break;
                     }
                     else if( code > 2 ) // absolute mode
                     {