diff --git a/libmpcodecs/ve_x264.c b/libmpcodecs/ve_x264.c
index 517c9b1662..e40f3986d4 100644
--- a/libmpcodecs/ve_x264.c
+++ b/libmpcodecs/ve_x264.c
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@ static int encode_frame(struct vf_instance_s *vf, x264_picture_t *pic_in)
 static void uninit(struct vf_instance_s *vf)
 {
     h264_module_t *mod=(h264_module_t*)vf->priv;
+    if (mod->x264)
     x264_encoder_close(mod->x264);
 }