diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gsth264decoder.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gsth264decoder.c
index d62cdca299..4e815e0127 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gsth264decoder.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gsth264decoder.c
@@ -340,6 +340,7 @@ gst_h264_decoder_init (GstH264Decoder * self)
   GstH264DecoderPrivate *priv;
 
   gst_video_decoder_set_packetized (GST_VIDEO_DECODER (self), TRUE);
+  gst_video_decoder_set_needs_format (GST_VIDEO_DECODER (self), TRUE);
 
   self->priv = priv = gst_h264_decoder_get_instance_private (self);