diff --git a/libavdevice/lavfi.c b/libavdevice/lavfi.c
index 04dc3b233c..37c782a69c 100644
--- a/libavdevice/lavfi.c
+++ b/libavdevice/lavfi.c
@@ -88,6 +88,9 @@ av_cold static int lavfi_read_header(AVFormatContext *avctx,
 
 #define FAIL(ERR) { ret = ERR; goto end; }
 
+    if (!pix_fmts)
+        FAIL(AVERROR(ENOMEM));
+
     avfilter_register_all();
 
     buffersink = avfilter_get_by_name("buffersink");