diff --git a/libavfilter/internal.h b/libavfilter/internal.h
index c208edf229..2b997301e7 100644
--- a/libavfilter/internal.h
+++ b/libavfilter/internal.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "avfilter.h"
 #include "avfiltergraph.h"
 #include "formats.h"
+#include "video.h"
 
 #define POOL_SIZE 32
 typedef struct AVFilterPool {
@@ -119,15 +120,6 @@ int ff_parse_sample_format(int *ret, const char *arg, void *log_ctx);
  */
 int ff_parse_channel_layout(int64_t *ret, const char *arg, void *log_ctx);
 
-/**
- * Pass video frame along and keep an internal reference for later use.
- */
-static inline void ff_null_start_frame_keep_ref(AVFilterLink *inlink,
-                                                AVFilterBufferRef *picref)
-{
-    avfilter_start_frame(inlink->dst->outputs[0], avfilter_ref_buffer(picref, ~0));
-}
-
 void ff_update_link_current_pts(AVFilterLink *link, int64_t pts);
 
 void ff_free_pool(AVFilterPool *pool);
diff --git a/libavfilter/video.c b/libavfilter/video.c
index d443885df2..f23592e907 100644
--- a/libavfilter/video.c
+++ b/libavfilter/video.c
@@ -215,6 +215,12 @@ void ff_start_frame(AVFilterLink *link, AVFilterBufferRef *picref)
     ff_update_link_current_pts(link, link->cur_buf->pts);
 }
 
+void ff_null_start_frame_keep_ref(AVFilterLink *inlink,
+                                                AVFilterBufferRef *picref)
+{
+    avfilter_start_frame(inlink->dst->outputs[0], avfilter_ref_buffer(picref, ~0));
+}
+
 void ff_null_end_frame(AVFilterLink *link)
 {
     ff_end_frame(link->dst->outputs[0]);
diff --git a/libavfilter/video.h b/libavfilter/video.h
index 1fed45f925..b6886a6e8d 100644
--- a/libavfilter/video.h
+++ b/libavfilter/video.h
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ void ff_null_end_frame(AVFilterLink *link);
  */
 void ff_start_frame(AVFilterLink *link, AVFilterBufferRef *picref);
 
+/**
+ * Pass video frame along and keep an internal reference for later use.
+ */
+void ff_null_start_frame_keep_ref(AVFilterLink *inlink, AVFilterBufferRef *picref);
+
 /**
  * Notify the next filter that the current frame has finished.
  *