diff --git a/modules/video_coding/codecs/vp9/svc_rate_allocator.cc b/modules/video_coding/codecs/vp9/svc_rate_allocator.cc
index 0535abda8a..f6ddb1e8e1 100644
--- a/modules/video_coding/codecs/vp9/svc_rate_allocator.cc
+++ b/modules/video_coding/codecs/vp9/svc_rate_allocator.cc
@@ -227,6 +227,9 @@ uint32_t SvcRateAllocator::GetMaxBitrateBps(const VideoCodec& codec) {
 
 uint32_t SvcRateAllocator::GetPaddingBitrateBps(const VideoCodec& codec) {
   const size_t num_spatial_layers = GetNumActiveSpatialLayers(codec);
+  if (num_spatial_layers == 0) {
+    return 0;  // All layers are deactivated.
+  }
 
   if (codec.mode == VideoCodecMode::kRealtimeVideo) {
     float scale_factor = 0.0;
diff --git a/modules/video_coding/codecs/vp9/svc_rate_allocator_unittest.cc b/modules/video_coding/codecs/vp9/svc_rate_allocator_unittest.cc
index 3c3f020349..dd40057ff9 100644
--- a/modules/video_coding/codecs/vp9/svc_rate_allocator_unittest.cc
+++ b/modules/video_coding/codecs/vp9/svc_rate_allocator_unittest.cc
@@ -188,6 +188,15 @@ TEST(SvcRateAllocatorTest, DeativateLayers) {
   }
 }
 
+TEST(SvcRateAllocatorTest, NoPaddingIfAllLayersAreDeactivated) {
+  VideoCodec codec = Configure(1280, 720, 3, 1, false);
+  EXPECT_EQ(codec.VP9()->numberOfSpatialLayers, 3U);
+  // Deactivation of base layer deactivates all layers.
+  codec.spatialLayers[0].active = false;
+  uint32_t padding_bps = SvcRateAllocator::GetPaddingBitrateBps(codec);
+  EXPECT_EQ(padding_bps, 0U);
+}
+
 class SvcRateAllocatorTestParametrizedContentType
     : public testing::Test,
       public testing::WithParamInterface<bool> {