diff --git a/libavcodec/h261dec.c b/libavcodec/h261dec.c
index 8a49e7d894..4373a60df4 100644
--- a/libavcodec/h261dec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/h261dec.c
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ static int h261_decode_mb(H261Context *h)
 
     // Read cbp
     if (HAS_CBP(h->mtype))
-        cbp = get_vlc2(&s->gb, h261_cbp_vlc.table, H261_CBP_VLC_BITS, 2) + 1;
+        cbp = get_vlc2(&s->gb, h261_cbp_vlc.table, H261_CBP_VLC_BITS, 1) + 1;
 
     if (s->mb_intra) {
         s->current_picture.mb_type[xy] = MB_TYPE_INTRA;