diff --git a/libavcodec/bitstream.c b/libavcodec/bitstream.c
index bbd9491ca0..3c4d176f30 100644
--- a/libavcodec/bitstream.c
+++ b/libavcodec/bitstream.c
@@ -272,24 +272,11 @@ int ff_init_vlc_sparse(VLC *vlc, int nb_bits, int nb_codes,
 
     vlc->bits = nb_bits;
     if (flags & INIT_VLC_USE_NEW_STATIC) {
-        VLC dyn_vlc = *vlc;
-
-        if (vlc->table_size)
+        if (vlc->table_size && vlc->table_size == vlc->table_allocated) {
             return 0;
-
-        ret = ff_init_vlc_sparse(&dyn_vlc, nb_bits, nb_codes,
-                                 bits, bits_wrap, bits_size,
-                                 codes, codes_wrap, codes_size,
-                                 symbols, symbols_wrap, symbols_size,
-                                 flags & ~INIT_VLC_USE_NEW_STATIC);
-        av_assert0(ret >= 0);
-        av_assert0(dyn_vlc.table_size <= vlc->table_allocated);
-        if (dyn_vlc.table_size < vlc->table_allocated)
-            av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_ERROR, "needed %d had %d\n", dyn_vlc.table_size, vlc->table_allocated);
-        memcpy(vlc->table, dyn_vlc.table, dyn_vlc.table_size * sizeof(*vlc->table));
-        vlc->table_size = dyn_vlc.table_size;
-        ff_free_vlc(&dyn_vlc);
-        return 0;
+        } else if(vlc->table_size) {
+            abort(); // fatal error, we are called on a partially initialized table
+        }
     } else {
         vlc->table           = NULL;
         vlc->table_allocated = 0;
@@ -343,6 +330,8 @@ int ff_init_vlc_sparse(VLC *vlc, int nb_bits, int nb_codes,
         av_freep(&vlc->table);
         return ret;
     }
+    if((flags & INIT_VLC_USE_NEW_STATIC) && vlc->table_size != vlc->table_allocated)
+        av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_ERROR, "needed %d had %d\n", vlc->table_size, vlc->table_allocated);
     return 0;
 }