diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gstmpeg2decoder.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gstmpeg2decoder.c
index 7a45be6b91..d0fefce260 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gstmpeg2decoder.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gstmpeg2decoder.c
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ static void
 gst_mpeg2_decoder_init (GstMpeg2Decoder * self)
 {
   gst_video_decoder_set_packetized (GST_VIDEO_DECODER (self), TRUE);
+  gst_video_decoder_set_needs_format (GST_VIDEO_DECODER (self), TRUE);
 
   self->priv = gst_mpeg2_decoder_get_instance_private (self);