diff --git a/coders/dcm.c b/coders/dcm.c
index c0455a27a3..8b027f8a06 100644
--- a/coders/dcm.c
+++ b/coders/dcm.c
@@ -4376,6 +4376,8 @@ static Image *ReadDCMImage(const ImageInfo *image_info,ExceptionInfo *exception)
   RelinquishDCMMemory(&info,&map,stream_info,stack,data);
   if (image == (Image *) NULL)
     return(image);
+  if ((image->rows == 0) || (image->columns == 0))
+    ThrowReaderException(CorruptImageError,"ImproperImageHeader")
   if (CloseBlob(image) == MagickFalse)
     status=MagickFalse;
   if (status == MagickFalse)