diff --git a/src/cu.c b/src/cu.c
index df89642b..6b4f483d 100644
--- a/src/cu.c
+++ b/src/cu.c
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ int uvg_get_possible_splits(const encoder_state_t * const state,
   splits[NO_SPLIT] = splits[QT_SPLIT] = splits[BT_HOR_SPLIT] = splits[TT_HOR_SPLIT] = splits[BT_VER_SPLIT] = splits[TT_VER_SPLIT] = true;
   bool can_btt = split_tree.mtt_depth < max_btd;
   
-  const enum split_type last_split = GET_SPLITDATA(&split_tree, 0);
+  const enum split_type last_split = GET_SPLITDATA(&split_tree, split_tree.current_depth - 1);
   const enum split_type parl_split = last_split == TT_HOR_SPLIT ? BT_HOR_SPLIT : BT_VER_SPLIT;
 
   // don't allow QT-splitting below a BT split
diff --git a/src/search.c b/src/search.c
index b8040666..5a8ef639 100644
--- a/src/search.c
+++ b/src/search.c
@@ -1572,7 +1572,7 @@ static double search_cu(
     default:
       assert(0 && "Incorrect_slice_type");
   }
-  if(minimum_split_amount > max_btd && !is_implicit) {
+  if(minimum_split_amount > max_btd && !is_implicit && can_split[1]) {
     // If search should not be performed at depths that cannot be reached after a maximum mtt split amount
     // we are in trouble, therefore prevent mtt splits in such situation
     can_split[2] = can_split[3] = can_split[4] = can_split[5] = false;