diff --git a/ffmpeg_opt.c b/ffmpeg_opt.c
index b9a5c39e12..0398d58ebc 100644
--- a/ffmpeg_opt.c
+++ b/ffmpeg_opt.c
@@ -1845,10 +1845,6 @@ static int open_output_file(OptionsContext *o, const char *filename)
     AVDictionary *unused_opts = NULL;
     AVDictionaryEntry *e = NULL;
 
-    if (configure_complex_filters() < 0) {
-        av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_FATAL, "Error configuring filters.\n");
-        exit_program(1);
-    }
 
     if (o->stop_time != INT64_MAX && o->recording_time != INT64_MAX) {
         o->stop_time = INT64_MAX;
@@ -2922,6 +2918,13 @@ int ffmpeg_parse_options(int argc, char **argv)
         goto fail;
     }
 
+    /* create the complex filtergraphs */
+    ret = configure_complex_filters();
+    if (ret < 0) {
+        av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_FATAL, "Error configuring filters.\n");
+        goto fail;
+    }
+
     /* open output files */
     ret = open_files(&octx.groups[GROUP_OUTFILE], "output", open_output_file);
     if (ret < 0) {