diff --git a/common/encode_lavc.c b/common/encode_lavc.c
index ade801e5a0..a250f9c994 100644
--- a/common/encode_lavc.c
+++ b/common/encode_lavc.c
@@ -906,7 +906,7 @@ bool encoder_init_codec_and_muxer(struct encoder_context *p,
     return true;
 
 fail:
-    avcodec_close(p->encoder);
+    avcodec_free_context(&p->encoder);
     return false;
 }