diff --git a/coders/dpx.c b/coders/dpx.c
index 8a77f33..8f18e0a 100644
--- a/coders/dpx.c
+++ b/coders/dpx.c
@@ -790,6 +790,8 @@
     case 7: image->orientation=RightBottomOrientation; break;
   }
   dpx.image.number_elements=ReadBlobShort(image);
+  if (dpx.image.number_elements > 8)
+    ThrowReaderException(CorruptImageError,"ImproperImageHeader");
   offset+=2;
   dpx.image.pixels_per_line=ReadBlobLong(image);
   offset+=4;