Detection of errors in a video stream occurs by calculating an error detection code, such as a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) code over a group of not more than N macroblocks in a slice of the stream prior and after transmission, where N is an integer greater than zero but less than the total number of macroblocks in the slice. A comparison of the error detection codes reveals whether any errors exist in the group of macroblocks. If the group has no errors, normal decoding occurs. If the macroblock group has an error, then the macroblock group, and the remaining blocks in the slice undergo error concealment.