diff --git a/impl/src/layer1/rx.c b/impl/src/layer1/rx.c
index 30da258..b8c01a9 100644
--- a/impl/src/layer1/rx.c
+++ b/impl/src/layer1/rx.c
@@ -241,6 +241,13 @@ result_t layer1_rx_process(layer1_rx_t *rx, const float complex *samples, size_t
 							break;
 						}
 
+						// check the payload length
+						if(rx->payload_len_bytes == 0) {
+							DEBUG_LOG("Packet length %u is not supported.\n", rx->payload_len_bytes);
+							rx->state = RX_STATE_ACQUISITION;
+							break;
+						}
+
 						rx->payload_demod = modcod_create_modem(rx->modcod);
 						uint16_t payload_bps = modem_get_bps(rx->payload_demod);