diff --git a/core/src/matrix/placement.rs b/core/src/matrix/placement.rs
index afc1b74..f26369c 100644
--- a/core/src/matrix/placement.rs
+++ b/core/src/matrix/placement.rs
@@ -34,13 +34,15 @@ pub fn place_data(matrix: &mut Matrix, codewords: &[u8]) {
                 if bit_idx >= bits.len() {
                     break;
                 }
-                place_bit(
-                    matrix,
-                    (actual_col - 1) as u8,
-                    row as u8,
-                    bits[bit_idx],
-                    &mut bit_idx,
-                );
+                if actual_col > 0 {
+                    place_bit(
+                        matrix,
+                        (actual_col - 1) as u8,
+                        row as u8,
+                        bits[bit_idx],
+                        &mut bit_idx,
+                    );
+                }
             }
         } else {
             for row in 0..size {
@@ -57,13 +59,15 @@ pub fn place_data(matrix: &mut Matrix, codewords: &[u8]) {
                 if bit_idx >= bits.len() {
                     break;
                 }
-                place_bit(
-                    matrix,
-                    (actual_col - 1) as u8,
-                    row as u8,
-                    bits[bit_idx],
-                    &mut bit_idx,
-                );
+                if actual_col > 0 {
+                    place_bit(
+                        matrix,
+                        (actual_col - 1) as u8,
+                        row as u8,
+                        bits[bit_idx],
+                        &mut bit_idx,
+                    );
+                }
             }
         }