diff --git a/libavformat/vqf.c b/libavformat/vqf.c
index 83ec1be1a0..cf680ffd4d 100644
--- a/libavformat/vqf.c
+++ b/libavformat/vqf.c
@@ -179,11 +179,11 @@ static int vqf_read_header(AVFormatContext *s)
         st->codec->sample_rate = 11025;
         break;
     default:
-        st->codec->sample_rate = rate_flag*1000;
-        if (st->codec->sample_rate <= 0) {
-            av_log(s, AV_LOG_ERROR, "sample rate %d is invalid\n", st->codec->sample_rate);
-            return -1;
+        if (rate_flag < 8 || rate_flag > 44) {
+            av_log(s, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Invalid rate flag %d\n", rate_flag);
+            return AVERROR_INVALIDDATA;
         }
+        st->codec->sample_rate = rate_flag*1000;
         break;
     }