diff --git a/libavcodec/qsvenc_h264.c b/libavcodec/qsvenc_h264.c
index 09e4c0e599..e01a2a3369 100644
--- a/libavcodec/qsvenc_h264.c
+++ b/libavcodec/qsvenc_h264.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static const AVOption options[] = {
     { "max_dec_frame_buffering", "Maximum number of frames buffered in the DPB", OFFSET(qsv.max_dec_frame_buffering), AV_OPT_TYPE_INT, { .i64 = 0 },   0, UINT16_MAX, VE },
 
 #if QSV_HAVE_LA
-    { "look_ahead",       "Use VBR algorithm with look ahead",    OFFSET(qsv.look_ahead),       AV_OPT_TYPE_INT, { .i64 = 1 }, 0, 1, VE },
+    { "look_ahead",       "Use VBR algorithm with look ahead",    OFFSET(qsv.look_ahead),       AV_OPT_TYPE_INT, { .i64 = 0 }, 0, 1, VE },
     { "look_ahead_depth", "Depth of look ahead in number frames", OFFSET(qsv.look_ahead_depth), AV_OPT_TYPE_INT, { .i64 = 0 }, 0, 100, VE },
 #endif
 #if QSV_HAVE_LA_DS