diff --git a/gst/avi/gstavidemux.c b/gst/avi/gstavidemux.c
index 1b76284d3a..8303f5cf25 100644
--- a/gst/avi/gstavidemux.c
+++ b/gst/avi/gstavidemux.c
@@ -1992,6 +1992,14 @@ gst_avi_demux_parse_stream (GstAviDemux * avi, GstBuffer * buf)
             sub = NULL;
             GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (element, "marking audio as VBR:%d, res %d",
                 stream->is_vbr, res);
+            /* we need these or we have no way to come up with timestamps */
+            if ((stream->is_vbr && !stream->strf.auds->av_bps) ||
+                (!stream->is_vbr && (!stream->strh->scale ||
+                        stream->strh->rate))) {
+              GST_WARNING_OBJECT (element,
+                  "invalid audio header, ignoring stream");
+              goto fail;
+            }
             break;
           case GST_RIFF_FCC_iavs:
             stream->is_vbr = TRUE;