diff --git a/ffmpeg.c b/ffmpeg.c
index 56c961b9e0..b226779d63 100644
--- a/ffmpeg.c
+++ b/ffmpeg.c
@@ -3103,7 +3103,8 @@ static int transcode_init(void)
                     ost->filter->filter->inputs[0]->sample_aspect_ratio;
                 codec->pix_fmt = ost->filter->filter->inputs[0]->format;
 
-                if (codec->width   != icodec->width  ||
+                if (!icodec ||
+                    codec->width   != icodec->width  ||
                     codec->height  != icodec->height ||
                     codec->pix_fmt != icodec->pix_fmt) {
                     codec->bits_per_raw_sample = frame_bits_per_raw_sample;