diff --git a/image.c b/image.c
index e4adc06..6f37f44 100644
--- a/image.c
+++ b/image.c
@@ -205,6 +205,10 @@ bool img_load_gif(img_t *img, const fileinfo_t *file)
 
 			ptr = data = (DATA32*) emalloc(sizeof(DATA32) * sw * sh);
 			cmap = gif->Image.ColorMap ? gif->Image.ColorMap : gif->SColorMap;
+			if (bg >= cmap->ColorCount) {
+				err = true;
+				break;
+			}
 			r = cmap->Colors[bg].Red;
 			g = cmap->Colors[bg].Green;
 			b = cmap->Colors[bg].Blue;