diff --git a/ext/theora/gsttheoradec.c b/ext/theora/gsttheoradec.c
index 14bd5b81d3..01f738d0c4 100644
--- a/ext/theora/gsttheoradec.c
+++ b/ext/theora/gsttheoradec.c
@@ -516,7 +516,8 @@ theora_handle_type_packet (GstTheoraDec * dec)
 
   dec->uncropped_info = state->info;
 
-  gst_video_decoder_negotiate (GST_VIDEO_DECODER (dec));
+  if (!gst_video_decoder_negotiate (GST_VIDEO_DECODER (dec)))
+    goto not_negotiated;
 
   dec->have_header = TRUE;
 
@@ -528,6 +529,12 @@ unsupported_format:
     GST_ERROR_OBJECT (dec, "Invalid pixel format %d", dec->info.pixel_fmt);
     return GST_FLOW_ERROR;
   }
+
+not_negotiated:
+  {
+    GST_ERROR_OBJECT (dec, "Failed to negotiate");
+    return GST_FLOW_NOT_NEGOTIATED;
+  }
 }
 
 static GstFlowReturn