diff --git a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.c b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.c
index 39c622dacc..024ccc9949 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.c
@@ -680,7 +680,7 @@ static int vaapi_encode_get_next(AVCodecContext *avctx,
         return AVERROR(ENOMEM);
 
     if (ctx->input_order == 0 || ctx->force_idr ||
-        ctx->gop_counter >= avctx->gop_size) {
+        ctx->gop_counter >= ctx->gop_size) {
         pic->type = PICTURE_TYPE_IDR;
         ctx->force_idr = 0;
         ctx->gop_counter = 1;
@@ -703,7 +703,7 @@ static int vaapi_encode_get_next(AVCodecContext *avctx,
         // encode-after it, but not exceeding the GOP size.
 
         for (i = 0; i < ctx->b_per_p &&
-             ctx->gop_counter < avctx->gop_size; i++) {
+             ctx->gop_counter < ctx->gop_size; i++) {
             pic = vaapi_encode_alloc(avctx);
             if (!pic)
                 goto fail;
@@ -1207,7 +1207,6 @@ static av_cold int vaapi_encode_config_attributes(AVCodecContext *avctx)
     int i;
 
     VAConfigAttrib attr[] = {
-        { VAConfigAttribEncMaxRefFrames  },
         { VAConfigAttribEncPackedHeaders },
     };
 
@@ -1230,24 +1229,6 @@ static av_cold int vaapi_encode_config_attributes(AVCodecContext *avctx)
             continue;
         }
         switch (attr[i].type) {
-        case VAConfigAttribEncMaxRefFrames:
-        {
-            unsigned int ref_l0 = attr[i].value & 0xffff;
-            unsigned int ref_l1 = (attr[i].value >> 16) & 0xffff;
-
-            if (avctx->gop_size > 1 && ref_l0 < 1) {
-                av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "P frames are not "
-                       "supported (%#x).\n", attr[i].value);
-                return AVERROR(EINVAL);
-            }
-            if (avctx->max_b_frames > 0 && ref_l1 < 1) {
-                av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_WARNING, "B frames are not "
-                       "supported (%#x) by the underlying driver.\n",
-                       attr[i].value);
-                avctx->max_b_frames = 0;
-            }
-        }
-        break;
         case VAConfigAttribEncPackedHeaders:
             if (ctx->va_packed_headers & ~attr[i].value) {
                 // This isn't fatal, but packed headers are always
@@ -1448,6 +1429,54 @@ static av_cold int vaapi_encode_init_rate_control(AVCodecContext *avctx)
     return 0;
 }
 
+static av_cold int vaapi_encode_init_gop_structure(AVCodecContext *avctx)
+{
+    VAAPIEncodeContext *ctx = avctx->priv_data;
+    VAStatus vas;
+    VAConfigAttrib attr = { VAConfigAttribEncMaxRefFrames };
+    uint32_t ref_l0, ref_l1;
+
+    vas = vaGetConfigAttributes(ctx->hwctx->display,
+                                ctx->va_profile,
+                                ctx->va_entrypoint,
+                                &attr, 1);
+    if (vas != VA_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
+        av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Failed to query reference frames "
+               "attribute: %d (%s).\n", vas, vaErrorStr(vas));
+        return AVERROR_EXTERNAL;
+    }
+
+    if (attr.value == VA_ATTRIB_NOT_SUPPORTED) {
+        ref_l0 = ref_l1 = 0;
+    } else {
+        ref_l0 = attr.value       & 0xffff;
+        ref_l1 = attr.value >> 16 & 0xffff;
+    }
+
+    if (avctx->gop_size <= 1) {
+        av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_VERBOSE, "Using intra frames only.\n");
+        ctx->gop_size = 1;
+    } else if (ref_l0 < 1) {
+        av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Driver does not support any "
+               "reference frames.\n");
+        return AVERROR(EINVAL);
+    } else if (ref_l1 < 1 || avctx->max_b_frames < 1) {
+        av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_VERBOSE, "Using intra and P-frames "
+               "(supported references: %d / %d).\n", ref_l0, ref_l1);
+        ctx->gop_size = avctx->gop_size;
+        ctx->p_per_i  = INT_MAX;
+        ctx->b_per_p  = 0;
+    } else {
+        av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_VERBOSE, "Using intra, P- and B-frames "
+               "(supported references: %d / %d).\n", ref_l0, ref_l1);
+        ctx->gop_size = avctx->gop_size;
+        ctx->p_per_i  = INT_MAX;
+        ctx->b_per_p  = avctx->max_b_frames;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
 static av_cold int vaapi_encode_init_quality(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 {
 #if VA_CHECK_VERSION(0, 36, 0)
@@ -1620,7 +1649,7 @@ static av_cold int vaapi_encode_create_recon_frames(AVCodecContext *avctx)
     ctx->recon_frames->height    = ctx->surface_height;
     // At most three IDR/I/P frames and two runs of B frames can be in
     // flight at any one time.
-    ctx->recon_frames->initial_pool_size = 3 + 2 * avctx->max_b_frames;
+    ctx->recon_frames->initial_pool_size = 3 + 2 * ctx->b_per_p;
 
     err = av_hwframe_ctx_init(ctx->recon_frames_ref);
     if (err < 0) {
@@ -1675,6 +1704,10 @@ av_cold int ff_vaapi_encode_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
     if (err < 0)
         goto fail;
 
+    err = vaapi_encode_init_gop_structure(avctx);
+    if (err < 0)
+        goto fail;
+
     err = vaapi_encode_config_attributes(avctx);
     if (err < 0)
         goto fail;
@@ -1731,14 +1764,10 @@ av_cold int ff_vaapi_encode_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
     }
 
     ctx->input_order  = 0;
-    ctx->output_delay = avctx->max_b_frames;
+    ctx->output_delay = ctx->b_per_p;
     ctx->decode_delay = 1;
     ctx->output_order = - ctx->output_delay - 1;
 
-    // Currently we never generate I frames, only IDR.
-    ctx->p_per_i = INT_MAX;
-    ctx->b_per_p = avctx->max_b_frames;
-
     if (ctx->codec->sequence_params_size > 0) {
         ctx->codec_sequence_params =
             av_mallocz(ctx->codec->sequence_params_size);
diff --git a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.h b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.h
index 3fb39113a4..322c4d3565 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.h
+++ b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.h
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ typedef struct VAAPIEncodeContext {
     int64_t         ts_ring[MAX_REORDER_DELAY * 3];
 
     // Frame type decision.
+    int gop_size;
     int p_per_i;
     int b_per_p;
     int force_idr;
diff --git a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_h264.c b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_h264.c
index 514805d0c2..a7cae548d3 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_h264.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_h264.c
@@ -491,8 +491,8 @@ static int vaapi_encode_h264_init_sequence_params(AVCodecContext *avctx)
     *vseq = (VAEncSequenceParameterBufferH264) {
         .seq_parameter_set_id = sps->seq_parameter_set_id,
         .level_idc        = sps->level_idc,
-        .intra_period     = avctx->gop_size,
-        .intra_idr_period = avctx->gop_size,
+        .intra_period     = ctx->gop_size,
+        .intra_idr_period = ctx->gop_size,
         .ip_period        = ctx->b_per_p + 1,
 
         .bits_per_second       = avctx->bit_rate,
diff --git a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_h265.c b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_h265.c
index 8a31a73148..063db47c57 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_h265.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_h265.c
@@ -431,8 +431,8 @@ static int vaapi_encode_h265_init_sequence_params(AVCodecContext *avctx)
         .general_level_idc   = vps->profile_tier_level.general_level_idc,
         .general_tier_flag   = vps->profile_tier_level.general_tier_flag,
 
-        .intra_period     = avctx->gop_size,
-        .intra_idr_period = avctx->gop_size,
+        .intra_period     = ctx->gop_size,
+        .intra_idr_period = ctx->gop_size,
         .ip_period        = ctx->b_per_p + 1,
         .bits_per_second   = avctx->bit_rate,
 
diff --git a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_mjpeg.c b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_mjpeg.c
index 77104583bf..318a7a94bd 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_mjpeg.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_mjpeg.c
@@ -401,6 +401,7 @@ static av_cold int vaapi_encode_mjpeg_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 static const AVCodecDefault vaapi_encode_mjpeg_defaults[] = {
     { "global_quality", "80" },
     { "b",              "0"  },
+    { "g",              "1"  },
     { NULL },
 };
 
diff --git a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_mpeg2.c b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_mpeg2.c
index 42ddb0a284..0185870808 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_mpeg2.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_mpeg2.c
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ static int vaapi_encode_mpeg2_init_sequence_params(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 
 
     *vseq = (VAEncSequenceParameterBufferMPEG2) {
-        .intra_period = avctx->gop_size,
+        .intra_period = ctx->gop_size,
         .ip_period    = ctx->b_per_p + 1,
 
         .picture_width  = avctx->width,
diff --git a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_vp8.c b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_vp8.c
index 2026e3276b..e4755687a8 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_vp8.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_vp8.c
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ static int vaapi_encode_vp8_init_sequence_params(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 
     if (!(ctx->va_rc_mode & VA_RC_CQP)) {
         vseq->bits_per_second = avctx->bit_rate;
-        vseq->intra_period    = avctx->gop_size;
+        vseq->intra_period    = ctx->gop_size;
     }
 
     return 0;
@@ -196,11 +196,6 @@ static av_cold int vaapi_encode_vp8_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 {
     VAAPIEncodeContext *ctx = avctx->priv_data;
 
-    if (avctx->max_b_frames > 0) {
-        av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "B-frames are not supported.\n");
-        return AVERROR_PATCHWELCOME;
-    }
-
     ctx->codec = &vaapi_encode_type_vp8;
 
     // Packed headers are not currently supported.
diff --git a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_vp9.c b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_vp9.c
index fa77b9b298..1393e25ae2 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_vp9.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_vp9.c
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ static int vaapi_encode_vp9_init_sequence_params(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 
     if (!(ctx->va_rc_mode & VA_RC_CQP)) {
         vseq->bits_per_second = avctx->bit_rate;
-        vseq->intra_period    = avctx->gop_size;
+        vseq->intra_period    = ctx->gop_size;
     }
 
     vpic->frame_width_src  = avctx->width;
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ static int vaapi_encode_vp9_init_sequence_params(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 static int vaapi_encode_vp9_init_picture_params(AVCodecContext *avctx,
                                                 VAAPIEncodePicture *pic)
 {
+    VAAPIEncodeContext              *ctx = avctx->priv_data;
     VAAPIEncodeVP9Context          *priv = avctx->priv_data;
     VAEncPictureParameterBufferVP9 *vpic = pic->codec_picture_params;
     int i;
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ static int vaapi_encode_vp9_init_picture_params(AVCodecContext *avctx,
         break;
     case PICTURE_TYPE_P:
         av_assert0(pic->nb_refs == 1);
-        if (avctx->max_b_frames > 0) {
+        if (ctx->b_per_p > 0) {
             if (priv->last_ref_dir) {
                 vpic->ref_flags.bits.ref_frame_ctrl_l0  = 2;
                 vpic->ref_flags.bits.ref_gf_idx         = 1;
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@ static int vaapi_encode_vp9_init_picture_params(AVCodecContext *avctx,
     vpic->filter_level    = priv->loop_filter_level;
     vpic->sharpness_level = priv->loop_filter_sharpness;
 
-    if (avctx->max_b_frames > 0 && pic->type == PICTURE_TYPE_P)
+    if (ctx->b_per_p > 0 && pic->type == PICTURE_TYPE_P)
         priv->last_ref_dir = !priv->last_ref_dir;
 
     return 0;
