diff --git a/libavcodec/mpegvideo.c b/libavcodec/mpegvideo.c
index ce52a0cabc..588bb7896c 100644
--- a/libavcodec/mpegvideo.c
+++ b/libavcodec/mpegvideo.c
@@ -894,7 +894,7 @@ alloc:
     if(s->last_picture_ptr) copy_picture(&s->last_picture, s->last_picture_ptr);
     if(s->next_picture_ptr) copy_picture(&s->next_picture, s->next_picture_ptr);
 
-    if(s->pict_type != FF_I_TYPE && (s->last_picture_ptr==NULL || s->last_picture_ptr->data[0]==NULL) && !s->dropable){
+    if(s->pict_type != FF_I_TYPE && (s->last_picture_ptr==NULL || s->last_picture_ptr->data[0]==NULL) && !s->dropable && s->codec_id != CODEC_ID_H264){
         av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "warning: first frame is no keyframe\n");
         assert(s->pict_type != FF_B_TYPE); //these should have been dropped if we don't have a reference
         goto alloc;