diff --git a/libavcodec/utils.c b/libavcodec/utils.c
index fe435fd893..edb0dd80df 100644
--- a/libavcodec/utils.c
+++ b/libavcodec/utils.c
@@ -951,6 +951,7 @@ do {                                                                    \
     ref_out = av_buffer_create(data, data_size, compat_release_buffer,  \
                                dummy_ref, 0);                           \
     if (!ref_out) {                                                     \
+        av_buffer_unref(&dummy_ref);                                    \
         av_frame_unref(frame);                                          \
         ret = AVERROR(ENOMEM);                                          \
         goto fail;                                                      \