diff --git a/ext/libav/gstavauddec.c b/ext/libav/gstavauddec.c
index a7befb231d..026051f784 100644
--- a/ext/libav/gstavauddec.c
+++ b/ext/libav/gstavauddec.c
@@ -131,8 +131,11 @@ gst_ffmpegauddec_class_init (GstFFMpegAudDecClass * klass)
 static void
 gst_ffmpegauddec_init (GstFFMpegAudDec * ffmpegdec)
 {
+  GstFFMpegAudDecClass *klass =
+      (GstFFMpegAudDecClass *) G_OBJECT_GET_CLASS (ffmpegdec);
+
   /* some ffmpeg data */
-  ffmpegdec->context = avcodec_alloc_context3 (NULL);
+  ffmpegdec->context = avcodec_alloc_context3 (klass->in_plugin);
   ffmpegdec->opened = FALSE;
 
   gst_audio_decoder_set_drainable (GST_AUDIO_DECODER (ffmpegdec), TRUE);
@@ -294,7 +297,7 @@ gst_ffmpegauddec_set_format (GstAudioDecoder * decoder, GstCaps * caps)
     gst_ffmpegauddec_close (ffmpegdec);
 
     /* and reset the defaults that were set when a context is created */
-    avcodec_get_context_defaults3 (ffmpegdec->context, NULL);
+    avcodec_get_context_defaults3 (ffmpegdec->context, oclass->in_plugin);
   }
 
   /* get size and so */
diff --git a/ext/libav/gstavaudenc.c b/ext/libav/gstavaudenc.c
index 635655960d..6996da72f1 100644
--- a/ext/libav/gstavaudenc.c
+++ b/ext/libav/gstavaudenc.c
@@ -166,8 +166,11 @@ gst_ffmpegaudenc_class_init (GstFFMpegAudEncClass * klass)
 static void
 gst_ffmpegaudenc_init (GstFFMpegAudEnc * ffmpegaudenc)
 {
+  GstFFMpegAudEncClass *klass =
+      (GstFFMpegAudEncClass *) G_OBJECT_GET_CLASS (ffmpegaudenc);
+
   /* ffmpeg objects */
-  ffmpegaudenc->context = avcodec_alloc_context3 (NULL);
+  ffmpegaudenc->context = avcodec_alloc_context3 (klass->in_plugin);
   ffmpegaudenc->opened = FALSE;
 
   gst_audio_encoder_set_drainable (GST_AUDIO_ENCODER (ffmpegaudenc), TRUE);
@@ -243,7 +246,7 @@ gst_ffmpegaudenc_set_format (GstAudioEncoder * encoder, GstAudioInfo * info)
   }
 
   /* set defaults */
-  avcodec_get_context_defaults3 (ffmpegaudenc->context, NULL);
+  avcodec_get_context_defaults3 (ffmpegaudenc->context, oclass->in_plugin);
 
   /* if we set it in _getcaps we should set it also in _link */
   ffmpegaudenc->context->strict_std_compliance = -1;
diff --git a/ext/libav/gstavviddec.c b/ext/libav/gstavviddec.c
index 279b74dbe1..a53ecfbedc 100644
--- a/ext/libav/gstavviddec.c
+++ b/ext/libav/gstavviddec.c
@@ -240,8 +240,11 @@ gst_ffmpegviddec_class_init (GstFFMpegVidDecClass * klass)
 static void
 gst_ffmpegviddec_init (GstFFMpegVidDec * ffmpegdec)
 {
+  GstFFMpegVidDecClass *klass =
+      (GstFFMpegVidDecClass *) G_OBJECT_GET_CLASS (ffmpegdec);
+
   /* some ffmpeg data */
-  ffmpegdec->context = avcodec_alloc_context3 (NULL);
+  ffmpegdec->context = avcodec_alloc_context3 (klass->in_plugin);
   ffmpegdec->picture = avcodec_alloc_frame ();
   ffmpegdec->opened = FALSE;
   ffmpegdec->skip_frame = ffmpegdec->lowres = 0;
@@ -366,7 +369,7 @@ gst_ffmpegviddec_set_format (GstVideoDecoder * decoder,
     gst_ffmpegviddec_close (ffmpegdec);
 
     /* and reset the defaults that were set when a context is created */
-    avcodec_get_context_defaults3 (ffmpegdec->context, NULL);
+    avcodec_get_context_defaults3 (ffmpegdec->context, oclass->in_plugin);
   }
 
   /* set buffer functions */
diff --git a/ext/libav/gstavvidenc.c b/ext/libav/gstavvidenc.c
index 807da6854f..7709d1ad07 100644
--- a/ext/libav/gstavvidenc.c
+++ b/ext/libav/gstavvidenc.c
@@ -219,8 +219,11 @@ gst_ffmpegvidenc_class_init (GstFFMpegVidEncClass * klass)
 static void
 gst_ffmpegvidenc_init (GstFFMpegVidEnc * ffmpegenc)
 {
+  GstFFMpegVidEncClass *klass =
+      (GstFFMpegVidEncClass *) G_OBJECT_GET_CLASS (ffmpegenc);
+
   /* ffmpeg objects */
-  ffmpegenc->context = avcodec_alloc_context3 (NULL);
+  ffmpegenc->context = avcodec_alloc_context3 (klass->in_plugin);
   ffmpegenc->picture = avcodec_alloc_frame ();
   ffmpegenc->opened = FALSE;
 
@@ -398,7 +401,7 @@ gst_ffmpegvidenc_set_format (GstVideoEncoder * encoder,
   }
 
   /* set defaults */
-  avcodec_get_context_defaults3 (ffmpegenc->context, NULL);
+  avcodec_get_context_defaults3 (ffmpegenc->context, oclass->in_plugin);
 
   /* if we set it in _getcaps we should set it also in _link */
   ffmpegenc->context->strict_std_compliance = -1;