diff --git a/pkg/vm/context.go b/pkg/vm/context.go
index c6440c9b6..09c0ceaf5 100644
--- a/pkg/vm/context.go
+++ b/pkg/vm/context.go
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ func (c *Context) NextIP() int {
 
 // Jump unconditionally moves the next instruction pointer to the specified location.
 func (c *Context) Jump(pos int) {
+	if pos < 0 || pos > len(c.prog) {
+		panic("instruction offset is out of range")
+	}
 	c.nextip = pos
 }
 
@@ -95,9 +98,6 @@ func (c *Context) Next() (opcode.Opcode, []byte, error) {
 	var err error
 
 	c.ip = c.nextip
-	if c.ip < 0 {
-		return 0, nil, errors.New("invalid instruction offset")
-	}
 	if c.ip >= len(c.prog) {
 		return opcode.RET, nil, nil
 	}