diff --git a/libavcodec/pcx.c b/libavcodec/pcx.c
index d024e4cd90..835dcfeb0a 100644
--- a/libavcodec/pcx.c
+++ b/libavcodec/pcx.c
@@ -165,7 +165,8 @@ static int pcx_decode_frame(AVCodecContext *avctx, void *data, int *got_frame,
 
         if (avpkt->size < 769) {
             av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "File is too short\n");
-            ret = avpkt->size;
+            ret = avctx->err_recognition & AV_EF_EXPLODE ?
+                  AVERROR_INVALIDDATA : avpkt->size;
             goto end;
         }
 
@@ -180,7 +181,8 @@ static int pcx_decode_frame(AVCodecContext *avctx, void *data, int *got_frame,
         }
         if (bytestream2_get_byte(&gb) != 12) {
             av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "expected palette after image data\n");
-            ret = avpkt->size;
+            ret = avctx->err_recognition & AV_EF_EXPLODE ?
+                  AVERROR_INVALIDDATA : avpkt->size;
             goto end;
         }
     } else if (nplanes == 1) {   /* all packed formats, max. 16 colors */