Techniques are described herein to terminate a list decoding operation before its completion based on performing one or more error check processes. A transmitted codeword encoded using a polar code may include one or more error check vectors interspersed with one or more information vectors. Upon receiving the codeword, a decoder may perform a list decoding operation on the received codeword. Upon decoding one of the error check vectors, the decoder may determine whether at least one candidate path used in the successive cancellation list decoding operation passes an error check process based on the error check vector. If no candidate paths satisfy the error check process, the decoder may terminate the list decoding operation. In some examples, the decoder may recheck whether candidate paths satisfy the error check operation at intermediate positions between error check vectors. Such rechecking may occur while decoding information vectors.