diff --git a/libavcodec/h264.c b/libavcodec/h264.c
index 95e76d57bc..26950022a8 100644
--- a/libavcodec/h264.c
+++ b/libavcodec/h264.c
@@ -3380,12 +3380,12 @@ static int 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_index= get_ue_golomb(gb);
-                    if(/*h->mmco[i].long_arg >= h->long_ref_count || h->long_ref[ h->mmco[i].long_arg ] == NULL*/ long_index >= 16){
+                    unsigned int long_arg= get_ue_golomb(gb);
+                    if(/*h->mmco[i].long_arg >= h->long_ref_count || h->long_ref[ h->mmco[i].long_arg ] == NULL*/ long_arg >= 16){
                         av_log(h->s.avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "illegal long ref in memory management control operation %d\n", opcode);
                         return -1;
                     }
-                    h->mmco[i].long_arg= long_index;
+                    h->mmco[i].long_arg= long_arg;
                 }
 
                 if(opcode > (unsigned)MMCO_LONG){