diff --git a/player/video.c b/player/video.c
index e9f9f5855d..67bf1385aa 100644
--- a/player/video.c
+++ b/player/video.c
@@ -1291,7 +1291,7 @@ void write_video(struct MPContext *mpctx, double endpts)
         .pts = pts,
         .duration = -1,
         .still = mpctx->step_frames > 0,
-        .num_frames = mpctx->num_next_frames,
+        .num_frames = MPMIN(mpctx->num_next_frames, VO_MAX_REQ_FRAMES),
         .num_vsyncs = 1,
     };
     for (int n = 0; n < dummy.num_frames; n++)