diff --git a/libmpdemux/demuxer.h b/libmpdemux/demuxer.h
index b3790e6515..255c525062 100644
--- a/libmpdemux/demuxer.h
+++ b/libmpdemux/demuxer.h
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ typedef struct demuxer_st {
 inline static demux_packet_t* new_demux_packet(int len){
   demux_packet_t* dp=malloc(sizeof(demux_packet_t));
   dp->len=len;
-  dp->buffer=len?malloc(len):NULL;
+  dp->buffer=len?malloc(len+8):NULL;
   dp->next=NULL;
   dp->pts=0;
   dp->pos=0;