diff --git a/src/webp_reader.cpp b/src/webp_reader.cpp
index f0adfad4f..685e83de1 100644
--- a/src/webp_reader.cpp
+++ b/src/webp_reader.cpp
@@ -189,6 +189,10 @@ void webp_reader<T>::init()
 {
     WebPDecoderConfig config;
     config_guard guard(config);
+    if (!WebPInitDecoderConfig(&config))
+    {
+        throw image_reader_exception("WEBP reader: WebPInitDecoderConfig failed");
+    }
     if (WebPGetFeatures(buffer_->data(), buffer_->size(), &config.input) == VP8_STATUS_OK) {
         width_ = config.input.width;
         height_ = config.input.height;