diff --git a/audio/filter/af.c b/audio/filter/af.c
index 7a6aef0959..21cf866ca3 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af.c
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ static int af_reinit(struct af_stream *s)
             if (af_fmt_is_valid(fmt_in1) && af_fmt_is_valid(fmt_in2)) {
                 bool spd1 = AF_FORMAT_IS_IEC61937(fmt_in1);
                 bool spd2 = AF_FORMAT_IS_IEC61937(fmt_in2);
-                if (spd1 != spd2) {
+                if (spd1 != spd2 && af->next) {
                     MP_WARN(af, "Filter %s apparently cannot be used due to "
                                 "spdif passthrough - removing it.\n",
                                 af->info->name);