A technique for decoding video including receiving quantized coefficient level values representative of a block of video representative of a plurality of pixels and a quantization parameter related to the block of video. The technique includes de-quantizing the quantized coefficient level values based upon the quantized coefficient level values and the quantization parameter only if the quantized coefficient level values and the quantization parameter are jointly within a predefined range of acceptable values. The technique also includes inverse transforming the dequantized coefficients to determine a decoded residue.