diff --git a/lib/microwaveprop/weather/grib2/complex_packing.ex b/lib/microwaveprop/weather/grib2/complex_packing.ex
index 8912f78c..abc5d909 100644
--- a/lib/microwaveprop/weather/grib2/complex_packing.ex
+++ b/lib/microwaveprop/weather/grib2/complex_packing.ex
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ defmodule Microwaveprop.Weather.Grib2.ComplexPacking do
     end
   end
 
-  defp consume_bits(<<>>, _width, _gref, acc), do: acc
+  defp consume_bits(bits, width, _gref, acc) when bit_size(bits) < width, do: acc
 
   defp consume_bits(bits, width, gref, acc) do
     <<val::size(width)-unsigned-big, rest::bitstring>> = bits