diff --git a/avconv.c b/avconv.c
index 8e76863bec..30c1ea8829 100644
--- a/avconv.c
+++ b/avconv.c
@@ -1507,7 +1507,7 @@ static enum AVPixelFormat get_format(AVCodecContext *s, const enum AVPixelFormat
                        "%s hwaccel requested for input stream #%d:%d, "
                        "but cannot be initialized.\n", hwaccel->name,
                        ist->file_index, ist->st->index);
-                exit_program(1);
+                return AV_PIX_FMT_NONE;
             }
             continue;
         }