diff --git a/streaming.c b/streaming.c
index f4ab12ba42..cabcd9d157 100644
--- a/streaming.c
+++ b/streaming.c
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ static read_method_decl(loose)
 			st->z_state = z_done;
 			break;
 		}
-		if (status != Z_OK && status != Z_BUF_ERROR) {
+		if (status != Z_OK && (status != Z_BUF_ERROR || total_read < sz)) {
 			git_inflate_end(&st->z);
 			st->z_state = z_error;
 			return -1;