diff --git a/src/video_compress/libavcodec.c b/src/video_compress/libavcodec.c
index 13bd6ff84..a4b557389 100644
--- a/src/video_compress/libavcodec.c
+++ b/src/video_compress/libavcodec.c
@@ -210,7 +210,6 @@ static bool configure_with(struct libav_video_compress *s, struct video_frame *f
         double avg_bpp; // average bite per pixel
         // implement multiple tiles support if needed
         assert(frame->tile_count == 1);
-        s->saved_desc = video_desc_from_frame(frame);
 
         struct video_desc compressed_desc;
         enum {
@@ -433,6 +432,8 @@ static bool configure_with(struct libav_video_compress *s, struct video_frame *f
                 return false;
         }
 
+        s->saved_desc = video_desc_from_frame(frame);
+
         return true;
 }