diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gstvp8decoder.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gstvp8decoder.c
index 97d72fa03d..411f27281e 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gstvp8decoder.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gstvp8decoder.c
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ static void
 gst_vp8_decoder_init (GstVp8Decoder * 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_vp8_decoder_get_instance_private (self);
 }