diff --git a/fftools/cmdutils.c b/fftools/cmdutils.c
index f911c52be2..beef8ce385 100644
--- a/fftools/cmdutils.c
+++ b/fftools/cmdutils.c
@@ -798,12 +798,7 @@ do {                                                                           \
 
 void print_error(const char *filename, int err)
 {
-    char errbuf[128];
-    const char *errbuf_ptr = errbuf;
-
-    if (av_strerror(err, errbuf, sizeof(errbuf)) < 0)
-        errbuf_ptr = strerror(AVUNERROR(err));
-    av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_ERROR, "%s: %s\n", filename, errbuf_ptr);
+    av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_ERROR, "%s: %s\n", filename, av_err2str(err));
 }
 
 int read_yesno(void)