diff --git a/player/video.c b/player/video.c
index 763f2e5a81..4831189dff 100644
--- a/player/video.c
+++ b/player/video.c
@@ -600,17 +600,13 @@ static void shift_frames(struct MPContext *mpctx)
 
 static int get_req_frames(struct MPContext *mpctx, bool eof)
 {
-    struct MPOpts *opts = mpctx->opts;
-
     // On EOF, drain all frames.
     // On the first frame, output a new frame as quickly as possible.
     if (eof || mpctx->video_pts == MP_NOPTS_VALUE)
         return 1;
 
     int req = vo_get_num_req_frames(mpctx->video_out);
-    if (opts->frame_dropping & 1)
-        req = MPMAX(req, 2);
-    return MPMIN(req, MP_ARRAY_SIZE(mpctx->next_frames));
+    return MPCLAMP(req, 2, MP_ARRAY_SIZE(mpctx->next_frames));
 }
 
 // Whether it's fine to call add_new_frame() now.