diff --git a/ffmpeg_opt.c b/ffmpeg_opt.c
index dc89e67dc1..2e94686894 100644
--- a/ffmpeg_opt.c
+++ b/ffmpeg_opt.c
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
     int i, ret;\
     for (i = 0; i < o->nb_ ## name; i++) {\
         char *spec = o->name[i].specifier;\
-        if (!strcmp(spec, mediatype) || !*spec)\
+        if (!strcmp(spec, mediatype))\
             outvar = o->name[i].u.type;\
         else if (ret < 0)\
             exit_program(1);\