diff --git a/libavcodec/h264_refs.c b/libavcodec/h264_refs.c
index ce29caf2f0..1f30916413 100644
--- a/libavcodec/h264_refs.c
+++ b/libavcodec/h264_refs.c
@@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ int ff_h264_decode_ref_pic_marking(H264Context *h, GetBitContext *gb){
                 }
                 if(opcode==MMCO_SHORT2LONG || opcode==MMCO_LONG2UNUSED || opcode==MMCO_LONG || opcode==MMCO_SET_MAX_LONG){
                     unsigned int long_arg= get_ue_golomb_31(gb);
-                    if(long_arg >= 32 || (long_arg >= 16 && !(opcode == MMCO_LONG2UNUSED && FIELD_PICTURE))){
+                    if(long_arg >= 32 || (long_arg >= 16 && !(opcode == MMCO_SET_MAX_LONG && long_arg == 16) && !(opcode == MMCO_LONG2UNUSED && FIELD_PICTURE))){
                         av_log(h->s.avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "illegal long ref in memory management control operation %d\n", opcode);
                         return -1;
                     }