diff --git a/libavcodec/snowdec.c b/libavcodec/snowdec.c
index c9d40b84e3..79cf5a1853 100644
--- a/libavcodec/snowdec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/snowdec.c
@@ -562,9 +562,12 @@ static int decode_frame(AVCodecContext *avctx, void *data, int *got_frame,
     ff_snow_release_buffer(avctx);
 
     if(!(s->avctx->debug&2048))
-        av_frame_ref(picture, s->current_picture);
+        res = av_frame_ref(picture, s->current_picture);
     else
-        av_frame_ref(picture, s->mconly_picture);
+        res = av_frame_ref(picture, s->mconly_picture);
+
+    if (res < 0)
+        return res;
 
     *got_frame = 1;