diff --git a/libavcodec/utils.c b/libavcodec/utils.c
index 1b2cd21645..f2a8ae0001 100644
--- a/libavcodec/utils.c
+++ b/libavcodec/utils.c
@@ -143,6 +143,17 @@ void av_free_static(void)
     av_freep(&array_static);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Call av_free_static automatically before it's too late
+ */
+
+static void do_free() __attribute__ ((destructor));
+
+static void do_free()
+{
+    av_free_static();
+}
+
 /**
  * Frees memory and sets the pointer to NULL.
  * @param arg pointer to the pointer which should be freed