diff --git a/libavcodec/h263dec.c b/libavcodec/h263dec.c
index e2c4d208d9..8bbd3a7580 100644
--- a/libavcodec/h263dec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/h263dec.c
@@ -107,10 +107,6 @@ static int h263_decode_frame(AVCodecContext *avctx,
     if (ret < 0)
         return -1;
 
-    /* make sure we start with an I-Frame */
-    if (!s->slice_height && (s->pict_type != I_TYPE))
-        return -1;
-
     MPV_frame_start(s);
 
 #ifdef DEBUG