diff --git a/libavcodec/mpeg4videoenc.c b/libavcodec/mpeg4videoenc.c
index a2a14afbd0..e327334d59 100644
--- a/libavcodec/mpeg4videoenc.c
+++ b/libavcodec/mpeg4videoenc.c
@@ -1065,7 +1065,7 @@ int ff_mpeg4_encode_picture_header(MpegEncContext *s, int picture_number)
         if (!(s->avctx->flags & AV_CODEC_FLAG_GLOBAL_HEADER)) {
             if (s->avctx->strict_std_compliance < FF_COMPLIANCE_VERY_STRICT)  // HACK, the reference sw is buggy
                 mpeg4_encode_visual_object_header(s);
-            if (s->avctx->strict_std_compliance < FF_COMPLIANCE_VERY_STRICT || picture_number == 0)  // HACK, the reference sw is buggy
+            if (s->avctx->strict_std_compliance < FF_COMPLIANCE_VERY_STRICT || s->picture_number == 0)  // HACK, the reference sw is buggy
                 mpeg4_encode_vol_header(s, 0, 0);
         }
         if (!(s->workaround_bugs & FF_BUG_MS))