diff --git a/libavcodec/avcodec.h b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
index 3763f7f72b..cd42058ff1 100644
--- a/libavcodec/avcodec.h
+++ b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
@@ -389,6 +389,8 @@ extern AVCodec *first_avcodec;
 
 /* returns LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_INT constant */
 unsigned avcodec_version( void );
+/* returns LIBAVCODEC_BUILD constant */
+unsigned avcodec_build( void );
 void avcodec_init(void);
 
 void register_avcodec(AVCodec *format);
diff --git a/libavcodec/utils.c b/libavcodec/utils.c
index 0f80b1b9b3..5480494928 100644
--- a/libavcodec/utils.c
+++ b/libavcodec/utils.c
@@ -412,6 +412,11 @@ unsigned avcodec_version( void )
   return LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_INT;
 }
 
+unsigned avcodec_build( void )
+{
+  return LIBAVCODEC_BUILD;
+}
+
 /* must be called before any other functions */
 void avcodec_init(void)
 {