diff --git a/libmpcodecs/ve_x264.c b/libmpcodecs/ve_x264.c
index 6007792610..3fd6d77eb0 100644
--- a/libmpcodecs/ve_x264.c
+++ b/libmpcodecs/ve_x264.c
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ static int me_method = 2;
 static int me_range = 16;
 static int trellis = 1;
 static int threads = 1;
-static int level_idc = 40;
+static int level_idc = 51;
 static int psnr = 0;
 static int log_level = 2;
 static int turbo = 0;