diff --git a/libavcodec/v4l2_buffers.c b/libavcodec/v4l2_buffers.c
index ba70c5d..4e68f90 100644
--- a/libavcodec/v4l2_buffers.c
+++ b/libavcodec/v4l2_buffers.c
@@ -207,20 +207,17 @@ static void v4l2_free_buffer(void *opaque, uint8_t *unused)
     V4L2Buffer* avbuf = opaque;
     V4L2m2mContext *s = buf_to_m2mctx(avbuf);
 
-    atomic_fetch_sub_explicit(&s->refcount, 1, memory_order_acq_rel);
-    if (s->reinit) {
-        if (!atomic_load(&s->refcount))
-            sem_post(&s->refsync);
-        return;
-    }
+    if (atomic_fetch_sub(&avbuf->context_refcount, 1) == 1) {
+        atomic_fetch_sub_explicit(&s->refcount, 1, memory_order_acq_rel);
 
-    if (avbuf->context->streamon) {
-        ff_v4l2_buffer_enqueue(avbuf);
-        return;
-    }
+        if (s->reinit) {
+            if (!atomic_load(&s->refcount))
+                sem_post(&s->refsync);
+        } else if (avbuf->context->streamon)
+            ff_v4l2_buffer_enqueue(avbuf);
 
-    if (!atomic_load(&s->refcount))
-        ff_v4l2_m2m_codec_end(s->avctx);
+        av_buffer_unref(&avbuf->context_ref);
+    }
 }
 
 static int v4l2_buf_to_bufref(V4L2Buffer *in, int plane, AVBufferRef **buf)
@@ -236,6 +233,17 @@ static int v4l2_buf_to_bufref(V4L2Buffer *in, int plane, AVBufferRef **buf)
     if (!*buf)
         return AVERROR(ENOMEM);
 
+    if (in->context_ref)
+        atomic_fetch_add(&in->context_refcount, 1);
+    else {
+        in->context_ref = av_buffer_ref(s->self_ref);
+        if (!in->context_ref) {
+            av_buffer_unref(buf);
+            return AVERROR(ENOMEM);
+        }
+        in->context_refcount = 1;
+    }
+
     in->status = V4L2BUF_RET_USER;
     atomic_fetch_add_explicit(&s->refcount, 1, memory_order_relaxed);
 
diff --git a/libavcodec/v4l2_buffers.h b/libavcodec/v4l2_buffers.h
index e28a4a6..dc5cc9e 100644
--- a/libavcodec/v4l2_buffers.h
+++ b/libavcodec/v4l2_buffers.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #ifndef AVCODEC_V4L2_BUFFERS_H
 #define AVCODEC_V4L2_BUFFERS_H
 
+#include <stdatomic.h>
 #include <linux/videodev2.h>
 
 #include "avcodec.h"
@@ -41,6 +42,11 @@ typedef struct V4L2Buffer {
     /* each buffer needs to have a reference to its context */
     struct V4L2Context *context;
 
+    /* This object is refcounted per-plane, so we need to keep track
+     * of how many context-refs we are holding. */
+    AVBufferRef *context_ref;
+    atomic_uint context_refcount;
+
     /* keep track of the mmap address and mmap length */
     struct V4L2Plane_info {
         int bytesperline;
diff --git a/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m.c b/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m.c
index 1d7a852..fd989ce 100644
--- a/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m.c
+++ b/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m.c
@@ -222,8 +222,6 @@ int ff_v4l2_m2m_codec_reinit(V4L2m2mContext* s)
     }
 
     /* 5. complete reinit */
-    sem_destroy(&s->refsync);
-    sem_init(&s->refsync, 0, 0);
     s->draining = 0;
     s->reinit = 0;
 
@@ -241,24 +239,26 @@ int ff_v4l2_m2m_codec_full_reinit(V4L2m2mContext *s)
     if (atomic_load(&s->refcount))
         while(sem_wait(&s->refsync) == -1 && errno == EINTR);
 
-    /* close the driver */
-    ff_v4l2_m2m_codec_end(s->avctx);
+    ret = ff_v4l2_context_set_status(&s->output, VIDIOC_STREAMOFF);
+    if (ret) {
+        av_log(s->avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "output VIDIOC_STREAMOFF\n");
+        goto error;
+    }
+
+    ret = ff_v4l2_context_set_status(&s->capture, VIDIOC_STREAMOFF);
+    if (ret) {
+            av_log(s->avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "capture VIDIOC_STREAMOFF\n");
+            goto error;
+    }
+
+    /* release and unmmap the buffers */
+    ff_v4l2_context_release(&s->output);
+    ff_v4l2_context_release(&s->capture);
 
     /* start again now that we know the stream dimensions */
     s->draining = 0;
     s->reinit = 0;
 
-    s->fd = open(s->devname, O_RDWR | O_NONBLOCK, 0);
-    if (s->fd < 0)
-        return AVERROR(errno);
-
-    ret = v4l2_prepare_contexts(s);
-    if (ret < 0)
-        goto error;
-
-    /* if a full re-init was requested - probe didn't run - we need to populate
-     * the format for each context
-     */
     ret = ff_v4l2_context_get_format(&s->output);
     if (ret) {
         av_log(log_ctx, AV_LOG_DEBUG, "v4l2 output format not supported\n");
@@ -301,19 +301,25 @@ int ff_v4l2_m2m_codec_full_reinit(V4L2m2mContext *s)
     return 0;
 
 error:
-    if (close(s->fd) < 0) {
-        ret = AVERROR(errno);
-        av_log(log_ctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "error closing %s (%s)\n",
-            s->devname, av_err2str(AVERROR(errno)));
-    }
-    s->fd = -1;
-
     return ret;
 }
 
+static void v4l2_m2m_destroy_context(void *opaque, uint8_t *context)
+{
+    V4L2m2mContext *s = (V4L2m2mContext*)context;
+
+    ff_v4l2_context_release(&s->capture);
+    sem_destroy(&s->refsync);
+
+    close(s->fd);
+
+    av_free(s);
+}
+
 int ff_v4l2_m2m_codec_end(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 {
-    V4L2m2mContext* s = avctx->priv_data;
+    V4L2m2mPriv *priv = avctx->priv_data;
+    V4L2m2mContext* s = priv->context;
     int ret;
 
     ret = ff_v4l2_context_set_status(&s->output, VIDIOC_STREAMOFF);
@@ -326,17 +332,8 @@ int ff_v4l2_m2m_codec_end(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 
     ff_v4l2_context_release(&s->output);
 
-    if (atomic_load(&s->refcount))
-        av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "ff_v4l2m2m_codec_end leaving pending buffers\n");
-
-    ff_v4l2_context_release(&s->capture);
-    sem_destroy(&s->refsync);
-
-    /* release the hardware */
-    if (close(s->fd) < 0 )
-        av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "failure closing %s (%s)\n", s->devname, av_err2str(AVERROR(errno)));
-
-    s->fd = -1;
+    s->self_ref = NULL;
+    av_buffer_unref(&priv->context_ref);
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -348,7 +345,7 @@ int ff_v4l2_m2m_codec_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
     char node[PATH_MAX];
     DIR *dirp;
 
-    V4L2m2mContext *s = avctx->priv_data;
+    V4L2m2mContext *s = ((V4L2m2mPriv*)avctx->priv_data)->context;
     s->avctx = avctx;
 
     dirp = opendir("/dev");
@@ -381,3 +378,29 @@ int ff_v4l2_m2m_codec_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 
     return v4l2_configure_contexts(s);
 }
+
+int ff_v4l2_m2m_create_context(AVCodecContext *avctx, V4L2m2mContext **s)
+{
+    V4L2m2mPriv *priv = avctx->priv_data;
+
+    *s = av_mallocz(sizeof(V4L2m2mContext));
+    if (!*s)
+        return AVERROR(ENOMEM);
+
+    priv->context_ref = av_buffer_create((uint8_t *) *s, sizeof(V4L2m2mContext),
+                                         &v4l2_m2m_destroy_context, NULL, 0);
+    if (!priv->context_ref) {
+        av_free(s);
+        return AVERROR(ENOMEM);
+    }
+
+    /* assign the context */
+    priv->context = *s;
+
+    /* populate it */
+    priv->context->capture.num_buffers = priv->num_capture_buffers;
+    priv->context->output.num_buffers  = priv->num_output_buffers;
+    priv->context->self_ref = priv->context_ref;
+
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m.h b/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m.h
index afa3987..452bf0d 100644
--- a/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m.h
+++ b/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m.h
@@ -38,11 +38,9 @@
 
 #define V4L_M2M_DEFAULT_OPTS \
     { "num_output_buffers", "Number of buffers in the output context",\
-        OFFSET(output.num_buffers), AV_OPT_TYPE_INT, { .i64 = 16 }, 6, INT_MAX, FLAGS }
+        OFFSET(num_output_buffers), AV_OPT_TYPE_INT, { .i64 = 16 }, 6, INT_MAX, FLAGS }
 
-typedef struct V4L2m2mContext
-{
-    AVClass *class;
+typedef struct V4L2m2mContext {
     char devname[PATH_MAX];
     int fd;
 
@@ -50,18 +48,41 @@ typedef struct V4L2m2mContext
     V4L2Context capture;
     V4L2Context output;
 
-    /* refcount of buffers held by the user */
-    atomic_uint refcount;
-
     /* dynamic stream reconfig */
     AVCodecContext *avctx;
     sem_t refsync;
+    atomic_uint refcount;
     int reinit;
 
     /* null frame/packet received */
     int draining;
+
+    /* Reference to self; only valid while codec is active. */
+    AVBufferRef *self_ref;
 } V4L2m2mContext;
 
+typedef struct V4L2m2mPriv
+{
+    AVClass *class;
+
+    V4L2m2mContext *context;
+    AVBufferRef    *context_ref;
+
+    int num_output_buffers;
+    int num_capture_buffers;
+} V4L2m2mPriv;
+
+/**
+ * Allocate a new context and references for a V4L2 M2M instance.
+ *
+ * @param[in] ctx The AVCodecContext instantiated by the encoder/decoder.
+ * @param[out] ctx The V4L2m2mContext.
+ *
+ * @returns 0 in success, a negative error code otherwise.
+ */
+int ff_v4l2_m2m_create_context(AVCodecContext *avctx, V4L2m2mContext **s);
+
+
 /**
  * Probes the video nodes looking for the required codec capabilities.
  *
diff --git a/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m_dec.c b/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m_dec.c
index 8308613..bca45be 100644
--- a/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m_dec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m_dec.c
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 
 static int v4l2_try_start(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 {
-    V4L2m2mContext *s = avctx->priv_data;
+    V4L2m2mContext *s = ((V4L2m2mPriv*)avctx->priv_data)->context;
     V4L2Context *const capture = &s->capture;
     V4L2Context *const output = &s->output;
     struct v4l2_selection selection;
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ static int v4l2_prepare_decoder(V4L2m2mContext *s)
 
 static int v4l2_receive_frame(AVCodecContext *avctx, AVFrame *frame)
 {
-    V4L2m2mContext *s = avctx->priv_data;
+    V4L2m2mContext *s = ((V4L2m2mPriv*)avctx->priv_data)->context;
     V4L2Context *const capture = &s->capture;
     V4L2Context *const output = &s->output;
     AVPacket avpkt = {0};
@@ -159,11 +159,17 @@ dequeue:
 
 static av_cold int v4l2_decode_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 {
-    V4L2m2mContext *s = avctx->priv_data;
-    V4L2Context *capture = &s->capture;
-    V4L2Context *output = &s->output;
+    V4L2Context *capture, *output;
+    V4L2m2mContext *s;
     int ret;
 
+    ret = ff_v4l2_m2m_create_context(avctx, &s);
+    if (ret < 0)
+        return ret;
+
+    capture = &s->capture;
+    output = &s->output;
+
     /* if these dimensions are invalid (ie, 0 or too small) an event will be raised
      * by the v4l2 driver; this event will trigger a full pipeline reconfig and
      * the proper values will be retrieved from the kernel driver.
@@ -186,13 +192,13 @@ static av_cold int v4l2_decode_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
     return v4l2_prepare_decoder(s);
 }
 
-#define OFFSET(x) offsetof(V4L2m2mContext, x)
+#define OFFSET(x) offsetof(V4L2m2mPriv, x)
 #define FLAGS AV_OPT_FLAG_VIDEO_PARAM | AV_OPT_FLAG_DECODING_PARAM
 
 static const AVOption options[] = {
     V4L_M2M_DEFAULT_OPTS,
     { "num_capture_buffers", "Number of buffers in the capture context",
-        OFFSET(capture.num_buffers), AV_OPT_TYPE_INT, {.i64 = 20}, 20, INT_MAX, FLAGS },
+        OFFSET(num_capture_buffers), AV_OPT_TYPE_INT, {.i64 = 20}, 20, INT_MAX, FLAGS },
     { NULL},
 };
 
@@ -209,7 +215,7 @@ AVCodec ff_ ## NAME ## _v4l2m2m_decoder = { \
     .long_name      = NULL_IF_CONFIG_SMALL("V4L2 mem2mem " LONGNAME " decoder wrapper"),\
     .type           = AVMEDIA_TYPE_VIDEO,\
     .id             = CODEC ,\
-    .priv_data_size = sizeof(V4L2m2mContext),\
+    .priv_data_size = sizeof(V4L2m2mPriv),\
     .priv_class     = &v4l2_m2m_ ## NAME ## _dec_class,\
     .init           = v4l2_decode_init,\
     .receive_frame  = v4l2_receive_frame,\
diff --git a/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m_enc.c b/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m_enc.c
index 7e88f4d..4c9ea1f 100644
--- a/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m_enc.c
+++ b/libavcodec/v4l2_m2m_enc.c
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ static int v4l2_prepare_encoder(V4L2m2mContext *s)
 
 static int v4l2_send_frame(AVCodecContext *avctx, const AVFrame *frame)
 {
-    V4L2m2mContext *s = avctx->priv_data;
+    V4L2m2mContext *s = ((V4L2m2mPriv*)avctx->priv_data)->context;
     V4L2Context *const output = &s->output;
 
     return ff_v4l2_context_enqueue_frame(output, frame);
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ static int v4l2_send_frame(AVCodecContext *avctx, const AVFrame *frame)
 
 static int v4l2_receive_packet(AVCodecContext *avctx, AVPacket *avpkt)
 {
-    V4L2m2mContext *s = avctx->priv_data;
+    V4L2m2mContext *s = ((V4L2m2mPriv*)avctx->priv_data)->context;
     V4L2Context *const capture = &s->capture;
     V4L2Context *const output = &s->output;
     int ret;
@@ -280,11 +280,17 @@ dequeue:
 
 static av_cold int v4l2_encode_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 {
-    V4L2m2mContext *s = avctx->priv_data;
-    V4L2Context *capture = &s->capture;
-    V4L2Context *output = &s->output;
+    V4L2Context *capture, *output;
+    V4L2m2mContext *s;
     int ret;
 
+    ret = ff_v4l2_m2m_create_context(avctx, &s);
+    if (ret < 0)
+        return ret;
+
+    capture = &s->capture;
+    output  = &s->output;
+
     /* common settings output/capture */
     output->height = capture->height = avctx->height;
     output->width = capture->width = avctx->width;
@@ -306,13 +312,13 @@ static av_cold int v4l2_encode_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
     return v4l2_prepare_encoder(s);
 }
 
-#define OFFSET(x) offsetof(V4L2m2mContext, x)
+#define OFFSET(x) offsetof(V4L2m2mPriv, x)
 #define FLAGS AV_OPT_FLAG_VIDEO_PARAM | AV_OPT_FLAG_ENCODING_PARAM
 
 static const AVOption options[] = {
     V4L_M2M_DEFAULT_OPTS,
     { "num_capture_buffers", "Number of buffers in the capture context",
-        OFFSET(capture.num_buffers), AV_OPT_TYPE_INT, {.i64 = 4 }, 4, INT_MAX, FLAGS },
+        OFFSET(num_capture_buffers), AV_OPT_TYPE_INT, {.i64 = 4 }, 4, INT_MAX, FLAGS },
     { NULL },
 };
 
@@ -329,7 +335,7 @@ AVCodec ff_ ## NAME ## _v4l2m2m_encoder = { \
     .long_name      = NULL_IF_CONFIG_SMALL("V4L2 mem2mem " LONGNAME " encoder wrapper"),\
     .type           = AVMEDIA_TYPE_VIDEO,\
     .id             = CODEC ,\
-    .priv_data_size = sizeof(V4L2m2mContext),\
+    .priv_data_size = sizeof(V4L2m2mPriv),\
     .priv_class     = &v4l2_m2m_ ## NAME ##_enc_class,\
     .init           = v4l2_encode_init,\
     .send_frame     = v4l2_send_frame,\
