diff --git a/libavutil/frame.c b/libavutil/frame.c
index 39e2a1313a..62a4a6d286 100644
--- a/libavutil/frame.c
+++ b/libavutil/frame.c
@@ -183,11 +183,17 @@ fail:
 
 static int get_audio_buffer(AVFrame *frame, int align)
 {
-    int channels = frame->channels;
+    int channels;
     int planar   = av_sample_fmt_is_planar(frame->format);
-    int planes   = planar ? channels : 1;
+    int planes;
     int ret, i;
 
+    if (!frame->channels)
+        frame->channels = av_get_channel_layout_nb_channels(frame->channel_layout);
+
+    channels = frame->channels;
+    planes = planar ? channels : 1;
+
     CHECK_CHANNELS_CONSISTENCY(frame);
     if (!frame->linesize[0]) {
         ret = av_samples_get_buffer_size(&frame->linesize[0], channels,