diff --git a/libavcodec/vqavideo.c b/libavcodec/vqavideo.c
index a396615ce5..f690f7464a 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vqavideo.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vqavideo.c
@@ -653,4 +653,5 @@ const AVCodec ff_vqa_decoder = {
     .decode         = vqa_decode_frame,
     .capabilities   = AV_CODEC_CAP_DR1,
     .defaults       = vqa_defaults,
+    .caps_internal  = FF_CODEC_CAP_INIT_THREADSAFE,
 };