diff --git a/libavcodec/bitstream.c b/libavcodec/bitstream.c
index 99119cdcfa..e907322871 100644
--- a/libavcodec/bitstream.c
+++ b/libavcodec/bitstream.c
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ static int build_table(VLC *vlc, int table_nb_bits, int nb_codes,
             /* note: realloc has been done, so reload tables */
             table = &vlc->table[table_index];
             table[j][0] = index; //code
+            av_assert0(table[j][0] == index);
             i = k-1;
         }
     }