diff --git a/libavcodec/mlpdec.c b/libavcodec/mlpdec.c
index 1a2c0f29ac..d4ece6dc1d 100644
--- a/libavcodec/mlpdec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/mlpdec.c
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ static int read_restart_header(MLPDecodeContext *m, GetBitContext *gbp,
 
     /* This should happen for TrueHD streams with >6 channels and MLP's noise
      * type. It is not yet known if this is allowed. */
-    if (max_channel > MAX_MATRIX_CHANNEL_MLP && !noise_type) {
+    if (max_matrix_channel > MAX_MATRIX_CHANNEL_MLP && !noise_type) {
         avpriv_request_sample(m->avctx,
                               "%d channels (more than the "
                               "maximum supported by the decoder)",