diff --git a/libavfilter/lavfutils.c b/libavfilter/lavfutils.c
index a4711f93d9..62cf167328 100644
--- a/libavfilter/lavfutils.c
+++ b/libavfilter/lavfutils.c
@@ -85,8 +85,7 @@ int ff_load_image(uint8_t *data[4], int linesize[4],
     av_image_copy(data, linesize, (const uint8_t **)frame->data, frame->linesize, *pix_fmt, *w, *h);
 
 end:
-    if (codec_ctx)
-        avcodec_close(codec_ctx);
+    avcodec_close(codec_ctx);
     if (format_ctx)
         avformat_close_input(&format_ctx);
     av_freep(&frame);