diff --git a/video/out/vo.c b/video/out/vo.c
index 319e2c07fb..db29690950 100644
--- a/video/out/vo.c
+++ b/video/out/vo.c
@@ -614,10 +614,6 @@ static void run_reconfig(void *p)
         mp_mutex_unlock(&vo->params_mutex);
     }
 
-    mp_mutex_lock(&vo->params_mutex);
-    talloc_free(vo->target_params);
-    vo->target_params = NULL;
-    mp_mutex_unlock(&vo->params_mutex);
     mp_mutex_lock(&in->lock);
     talloc_free(in->current_frame);
     in->current_frame = NULL;
diff --git a/video/out/vo.h b/video/out/vo.h
index 3deee0d3a7..eb92d4fc5b 100644
--- a/video/out/vo.h
+++ b/video/out/vo.h
@@ -480,8 +480,10 @@ struct vo {
     //     which are still safe to read in the play loop, but for correctness
     //     generic getter is protected by params_mutex.
     mp_mutex params_mutex;
-    struct mp_image_params *params; // Configured parameters (changed in vo_reconfig)
-    struct mp_image_params *target_params; // Target display parameters
+    // Configured parameters (changed in vo_reconfig)
+    struct mp_image_params *params;
+    // Target display parameters (VO is responsible for re-/setting)
+    struct mp_image_params *target_params;
 
     // --- The following fields can be accessed only by the VO thread, or from
     //     anywhere _if_ the VO thread is suspended (use vo->dispatch).
diff --git a/video/out/vo_gpu_next.c b/video/out/vo_gpu_next.c
index 8b6dfa2776..17fdb1a98a 100644
--- a/video/out/vo_gpu_next.c
+++ b/video/out/vo_gpu_next.c
@@ -1221,6 +1221,7 @@ static int reconfig(struct vo *vo, struct mp_image_params *params)
         return -1;
 
     resize(vo);
+    TA_FREEP(&vo->target_params);
     return 0;
 }