diff --git a/examples/encoder_example.c b/examples/encoder_example.c
index 8d244dabba4d6482390c79dfabb6a4d4da9076a8..7aca31b20812d4af5f3b792d4a2970d23bfa3559 100644
--- a/examples/encoder_example.c
+++ b/examples/encoder_example.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #endif
 /*#define OC_COLLECT_METRICS*/
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #if !defined(_WIN32)
 #include <getopt.h>
@@ -775,6 +776,10 @@ static void id_file(char *f){
 
           audio=test;
           audio_ch=buffer[6]+(buffer[7]<<8);
+          if (0 >= audio_ch) {
+            fprintf(stderr,"Can only read WAV files with non-zero audio channels for now.\n");
+            exit(1);
+          }
           audio_hz=buffer[8]+(buffer[9]<<8)+
             (buffer[10]<<16)+(buffer[11]<<24);