diff --git a/common/av_log.c b/common/av_log.c
index a9a5171795..8b0cb09efa 100644
--- a/common/av_log.c
+++ b/common/av_log.c
@@ -210,7 +210,8 @@ bool print_libav_versions(struct mp_log *log, int v)
         mp_msg(log, v, "   %-15s %d.%d.%d", l->name, V(l->buildv));
         if (l->buildv != l->runv) {
             mp_msg(log, v, " (runtime %d.%d.%d)", V(l->runv));
-            mismatch = true;
+            mismatch = l->buildv > l->runv ||
+                AV_VERSION_MAJOR(l->buildv) != AV_VERSION_MAJOR(l->runv);
         }
         mp_msg(log, v, "\n");
     }
diff --git a/player/main.c b/player/main.c
index bc6a3b1f97..70697a2a6e 100644
--- a/player/main.c
+++ b/player/main.c
@@ -385,19 +385,11 @@ int mp_initialize(struct MPContext *mpctx, char **options)
         return 1; // help
 
     if (!print_libav_versions(mp_null_log, 0)) {
-        // Using mismatched libraries can be legitimate, but even then it's
-        // a bad idea. We don't acknowledge its usefulness and stability.
-        // Distro maintainers who patch this out should be aware that mpv
-        // intentionally ignores ABI in some places where it's not possible to
-        // get by without violating it.
-        // Known API/ABI violations:
-        //  - AVIOContext.bytes_read (demux_lavf.c)
         print_libav_versions(mpctx->log, MSGL_FATAL);
-        MP_FATAL(mpctx, "\nmpv was compiled against a different version of "
+        MP_FATAL(mpctx, "\nmpv was compiled against an incompatible version of "
                  "FFmpeg/Libav than the shared\nlibrary it is linked against. "
                  "This is most likely a broken build and could\nresult in "
-                 "misbehavior and crashes.\n\nmpv does not support this "
-                 "configuration and will not run - rebuild mpv instead.\n");
+                 "misbehavior and crashes.\n\nThis is a broken build.\n");
         return -1;
     }