diff --git a/lib/common/entropy_common.c b/lib/common/entropy_common.c
index 344c3236..33fd04bd 100644
--- a/lib/common/entropy_common.c
+++ b/lib/common/entropy_common.c
@@ -72,7 +72,19 @@ size_t FSE_readNCount (short* normalizedCounter, unsigned* maxSVPtr, unsigned* t
     unsigned charnum = 0;
     int previous0 = 0;
 
-    if (hbSize < 4) return ERROR(srcSize_wrong);
+    if (hbSize < 4) {
+        /* This function only works when hbSize >= 4 */
+        char buffer[4];
+        memset(buffer, 0, sizeof(buffer));
+        memcpy(buffer, headerBuffer, hbSize);
+        {   size_t const countSize = FSE_readNCount(normalizedCounter, maxSVPtr, tableLogPtr,
+                                                    buffer, sizeof(buffer));
+            if (FSE_isError(countSize)) return countSize;
+            if (countSize > hbSize) return ERROR(corruption_detected);
+            return countSize;
+    }   }
+    assert(hbSize >= 4);
+
     bitStream = MEM_readLE32(ip);
     nbBits = (bitStream & 0xF) + FSE_MIN_TABLELOG;   /* extract tableLog */
     if (nbBits > FSE_TABLELOG_ABSOLUTE_MAX) return ERROR(tableLog_tooLarge);
@@ -105,6 +117,7 @@ size_t FSE_readNCount (short* normalizedCounter, unsigned* maxSVPtr, unsigned* t
             if (n0 > *maxSVPtr) return ERROR(maxSymbolValue_tooSmall);
             while (charnum < n0) normalizedCounter[charnum++] = 0;
             if ((ip <= iend-7) || (ip + (bitCount>>3) <= iend-4)) {
+                assert((bitCount >> 3) <= 3); /* For first condition to work */
                 ip += bitCount>>3;
                 bitCount &= 7;
                 bitStream = MEM_readLE32(ip) >> bitCount;