diff --git a/ext/libav/gstavviddec.c b/ext/libav/gstavviddec.c
index cadae6f95a..b0ad2b68d9 100644
--- a/ext/libav/gstavviddec.c
+++ b/ext/libav/gstavviddec.c
@@ -258,6 +258,8 @@ gst_ffmpegviddec_init (GstFFMpegVidDec * ffmpegdec)
   ffmpegdec->direct_rendering = DEFAULT_DIRECT_RENDERING;
   ffmpegdec->debug_mv = DEFAULT_DEBUG_MV;
   ffmpegdec->max_threads = DEFAULT_MAX_THREADS;
+
+  gst_video_decoder_set_needs_format (GST_VIDEO_DECODER (ffmpegdec), TRUE);
 }
 
 static void