diff --git a/player/lavfi.c b/player/lavfi.c
index ada66e7475..50c2fd8fc2 100644
--- a/player/lavfi.c
+++ b/player/lavfi.c
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ static bool init_pads(struct lavfi *c)
             goto error; // can happen if pad reassociation fails
 
         if (pad->dir == LAVFI_OUT) {
-            AVFilter *dst_filter;
+            AVFilter *dst_filter = NULL;
             if (pad->type == STREAM_AUDIO) {
                 dst_filter = avfilter_get_by_name("abuffersink");
             } else if (pad->type == STREAM_VIDEO) {
@@ -348,6 +348,9 @@ static bool init_pads(struct lavfi *c)
                 assert(0);
             }
 
+            if (!dst_filter)
+                goto error;
+
             char name[256];
             snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "mpv_sink_%s", pad->name);
 
@@ -359,7 +362,7 @@ static bool init_pads(struct lavfi *c)
                 goto error;
         } else {
             char src_args[256];
-            AVFilter *src_filter;
+            AVFilter *src_filter = NULL;
 
             pad->input_eof |= !pad->connected;
 
@@ -410,6 +413,9 @@ static bool init_pads(struct lavfi *c)
                 assert(0);
             }
 
+            if (!src_filter)
+                goto error;
+
             char name[256];
             snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "mpv_src_%s", pad->name);