diff --git a/modules/dnn/src/layers/gather_elements_layer.cpp b/modules/dnn/src/layers/gather_elements_layer.cpp
index 8c68200850..c7bc43ea1a 100644
--- a/modules/dnn/src/layers/gather_elements_layer.cpp
+++ b/modules/dnn/src/layers/gather_elements_layer.cpp
@@ -70,6 +70,12 @@ public:
         CV_TRACE_FUNCTION();
         CV_TRACE_ARG_VALUE(name, "name", name.c_str());
 
+        if (inputs_arr.depth() == CV_16S)
+        {
+            forward_fallback(inputs_arr, outputs_arr, internals_arr);
+            return;
+        }
+
         std::vector<Mat> inputs, outputs;
         inputs_arr.getMatVector(inputs);
         outputs_arr.getMatVector(outputs);