diff --git a/fftools/ffmpeg.c b/fftools/ffmpeg.c
index d7c833be63..2667f226b4 100644
--- a/fftools/ffmpeg.c
+++ b/fftools/ffmpeg.c
@@ -592,6 +592,7 @@ static void ffmpeg_cleanup(int ret)
 
         av_frame_free(&ost->filtered_frame);
         av_frame_free(&ost->last_frame);
+        av_packet_free(&ost->pkt);
         av_dict_free(&ost->encoder_opts);
 
         av_freep(&ost->forced_keyframes);
@@ -610,9 +611,9 @@ static void ffmpeg_cleanup(int ret)
 
         if (ost->muxing_queue) {
             while (av_fifo_size(ost->muxing_queue)) {
-                AVPacket pkt;
+                AVPacket *pkt;
                 av_fifo_generic_read(ost->muxing_queue, &pkt, sizeof(pkt), NULL);
-                av_packet_unref(&pkt);
+                av_packet_free(&pkt);
             }
             av_fifo_freep(&ost->muxing_queue);
         }
@@ -624,6 +625,7 @@ static void ffmpeg_cleanup(int ret)
 #endif
     for (i = 0; i < nb_input_files; i++) {
         avformat_close_input(&input_files[i]->ctx);
+        av_packet_free(&input_files[i]->pkt);
         av_freep(&input_files[i]);
     }
     for (i = 0; i < nb_input_streams; i++) {
@@ -631,6 +633,7 @@ static void ffmpeg_cleanup(int ret)
 
         av_frame_free(&ist->decoded_frame);
         av_frame_free(&ist->filter_frame);
+        av_packet_free(&ist->pkt);
         av_dict_free(&ist->decoder_opts);
         avsubtitle_free(&ist->prev_sub.subtitle);
         av_frame_free(&ist->sub2video.frame);
@@ -746,7 +749,7 @@ static void write_packet(OutputFile *of, AVPacket *pkt, OutputStream *ost, int u
     }
 
     if (!of->header_written) {
-        AVPacket tmp_pkt = {0};
+        AVPacket *tmp_pkt;
         /* the muxer is not initialized yet, buffer the packet */
         if (!av_fifo_space(ost->muxing_queue)) {
             unsigned int are_we_over_size =
@@ -769,8 +772,11 @@ static void write_packet(OutputFile *of, AVPacket *pkt, OutputStream *ost, int u
         ret = av_packet_make_refcounted(pkt);
         if (ret < 0)
             exit_program(1);
-        av_packet_move_ref(&tmp_pkt, pkt);
-        ost->muxing_queue_data_size += tmp_pkt.size;
+        tmp_pkt = av_packet_alloc();
+        if (!tmp_pkt)
+            exit_program(1);
+        av_packet_move_ref(tmp_pkt, pkt);
+        ost->muxing_queue_data_size += tmp_pkt->size;
         av_fifo_generic_write(ost->muxing_queue, &tmp_pkt, sizeof(tmp_pkt), NULL);
         return;
     }
@@ -999,13 +1005,9 @@ static void do_audio_out(OutputFile *of, OutputStream *ost,
                          AVFrame *frame)
 {
     AVCodecContext *enc = ost->enc_ctx;
-    AVPacket pkt;
+    AVPacket *pkt = ost->pkt;
     int ret;
 
-    av_init_packet(&pkt);
-    pkt.data = NULL;
-    pkt.size = 0;
-
     adjust_frame_pts_to_encoder_tb(of, ost, frame);
 
     if (!check_recording_time(ost))
@@ -1017,7 +1019,6 @@ static void do_audio_out(OutputFile *of, OutputStream *ost,
     ost->samples_encoded += frame->nb_samples;
     ost->frames_encoded++;
 
-    av_assert0(pkt.size || !pkt.data);
     update_benchmark(NULL);
     if (debug_ts) {
         av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, "encoder <- type:audio "
@@ -1031,7 +1032,8 @@ static void do_audio_out(OutputFile *of, OutputStream *ost,
         goto error;
 
     while (1) {
-        ret = avcodec_receive_packet(enc, &pkt);
+        av_packet_unref(pkt);
+        ret = avcodec_receive_packet(enc, pkt);
         if (ret == AVERROR(EAGAIN))
             break;
         if (ret < 0)
@@ -1039,16 +1041,16 @@ static void do_audio_out(OutputFile *of, OutputStream *ost,
 
         update_benchmark("encode_audio %d.%d", ost->file_index, ost->index);
 
-        av_packet_rescale_ts(&pkt, enc->time_base, ost->mux_timebase);
+        av_packet_rescale_ts(pkt, enc->time_base, ost->mux_timebase);
 
         if (debug_ts) {
             av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, "encoder -> type:audio "
                    "pkt_pts:%s pkt_pts_time:%s pkt_dts:%s pkt_dts_time:%s\n",
-                   av_ts2str(pkt.pts), av_ts2timestr(pkt.pts, &enc->time_base),
-                   av_ts2str(pkt.dts), av_ts2timestr(pkt.dts, &enc->time_base));
+                   av_ts2str(pkt->pts), av_ts2timestr(pkt->pts, &enc->time_base),
+                   av_ts2str(pkt->dts), av_ts2timestr(pkt->dts, &enc->time_base));
         }
 
-        output_packet(of, &pkt, ost, 0);
+        output_packet(of, pkt, ost, 0);
     }
 
     return;
@@ -1064,7 +1066,7 @@ static void do_subtitle_out(OutputFile *of,
     int subtitle_out_max_size = 1024 * 1024;
     int subtitle_out_size, nb, i;
     AVCodecContext *enc;
-    AVPacket pkt;
+    AVPacket *pkt = ost->pkt;
     int64_t pts;
 
     if (sub->pts == AV_NOPTS_VALUE) {
@@ -1122,21 +1124,21 @@ static void do_subtitle_out(OutputFile *of,
             exit_program(1);
         }
 
-        av_init_packet(&pkt);
-        pkt.data = subtitle_out;
-        pkt.size = subtitle_out_size;
-        pkt.pts  = av_rescale_q(sub->pts, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ost->mux_timebase);
-        pkt.duration = av_rescale_q(sub->end_display_time, (AVRational){ 1, 1000 }, ost->mux_timebase);
+        av_packet_unref(pkt);
+        pkt->data = subtitle_out;
+        pkt->size = subtitle_out_size;
+        pkt->pts  = av_rescale_q(sub->pts, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ost->mux_timebase);
+        pkt->duration = av_rescale_q(sub->end_display_time, (AVRational){ 1, 1000 }, ost->mux_timebase);
         if (enc->codec_id == AV_CODEC_ID_DVB_SUBTITLE) {
             /* XXX: the pts correction is handled here. Maybe handling
                it in the codec would be better */
             if (i == 0)
-                pkt.pts += av_rescale_q(sub->start_display_time, (AVRational){ 1, 1000 }, ost->mux_timebase);
+                pkt->pts += av_rescale_q(sub->start_display_time, (AVRational){ 1, 1000 }, ost->mux_timebase);
             else
-                pkt.pts += av_rescale_q(sub->end_display_time, (AVRational){ 1, 1000 }, ost->mux_timebase);
+                pkt->pts += av_rescale_q(sub->end_display_time, (AVRational){ 1, 1000 }, ost->mux_timebase);
         }
-        pkt.dts = pkt.pts;
-        output_packet(of, &pkt, ost, 0);
+        pkt->dts = pkt->pts;
+        output_packet(of, pkt, ost, 0);
     }
 }
 
@@ -1145,7 +1147,7 @@ static void do_video_out(OutputFile *of,
                          AVFrame *next_picture)
 {
     int ret, format_video_sync;
-    AVPacket pkt;
+    AVPacket *pkt = ost->pkt;
     AVCodecContext *enc = ost->enc_ctx;
     AVRational frame_rate;
     int nb_frames, nb0_frames, i;
@@ -1291,9 +1293,6 @@ static void do_video_out(OutputFile *of,
         AVFrame *in_picture;
         int forced_keyframe = 0;
         double pts_time;
-        av_init_packet(&pkt);
-        pkt.data = NULL;
-        pkt.size = 0;
 
         if (i < nb0_frames && ost->last_frame) {
             in_picture = ost->last_frame;
@@ -1372,7 +1371,8 @@ static void do_video_out(OutputFile *of,
         av_frame_remove_side_data(in_picture, AV_FRAME_DATA_A53_CC);
 
         while (1) {
-            ret = avcodec_receive_packet(enc, &pkt);
+            av_packet_unref(pkt);
+            ret = avcodec_receive_packet(enc, pkt);
             update_benchmark("encode_video %d.%d", ost->file_index, ost->index);
             if (ret == AVERROR(EAGAIN))
                 break;
@@ -1382,24 +1382,24 @@ static void do_video_out(OutputFile *of,
             if (debug_ts) {
                 av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, "encoder -> type:video "
                        "pkt_pts:%s pkt_pts_time:%s pkt_dts:%s pkt_dts_time:%s\n",
-                       av_ts2str(pkt.pts), av_ts2timestr(pkt.pts, &enc->time_base),
-                       av_ts2str(pkt.dts), av_ts2timestr(pkt.dts, &enc->time_base));
+                       av_ts2str(pkt->pts), av_ts2timestr(pkt->pts, &enc->time_base),
+                       av_ts2str(pkt->dts), av_ts2timestr(pkt->dts, &enc->time_base));
             }
 
-            if (pkt.pts == AV_NOPTS_VALUE && !(enc->codec->capabilities & AV_CODEC_CAP_DELAY))
-                pkt.pts = ost->sync_opts;
+            if (pkt->pts == AV_NOPTS_VALUE && !(enc->codec->capabilities & AV_CODEC_CAP_DELAY))
+                pkt->pts = ost->sync_opts;
 
-            av_packet_rescale_ts(&pkt, enc->time_base, ost->mux_timebase);
+            av_packet_rescale_ts(pkt, enc->time_base, ost->mux_timebase);
 
             if (debug_ts) {
                 av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, "encoder -> type:video "
                     "pkt_pts:%s pkt_pts_time:%s pkt_dts:%s pkt_dts_time:%s\n",
-                    av_ts2str(pkt.pts), av_ts2timestr(pkt.pts, &ost->mux_timebase),
-                    av_ts2str(pkt.dts), av_ts2timestr(pkt.dts, &ost->mux_timebase));
+                    av_ts2str(pkt->pts), av_ts2timestr(pkt->pts, &ost->mux_timebase),
+                    av_ts2str(pkt->dts), av_ts2timestr(pkt->dts, &ost->mux_timebase));
             }
 
-            frame_size = pkt.size;
-            output_packet(of, &pkt, ost, 0);
+            frame_size = pkt->size;
+            output_packet(of, pkt, ost, 0);
 
             /* if two pass, output log */
             if (ost->logfile && enc->stats_out) {
@@ -1528,6 +1528,9 @@ static int reap_filters(int flush)
         if (av_buffersink_get_type(filter) == AVMEDIA_TYPE_AUDIO)
             init_output_stream_wrapper(ost, NULL, 1);
 
+        if (!ost->pkt && !(ost->pkt = av_packet_alloc())) {
+            return AVERROR(ENOMEM);
+        }
         if (!ost->filtered_frame && !(ost->filtered_frame = av_frame_alloc())) {
             return AVERROR(ENOMEM);
         }
@@ -1968,7 +1971,7 @@ static void flush_encoders(void)
 
         for (;;) {
             const char *desc = NULL;
-            AVPacket pkt;
+            AVPacket *pkt = ost->pkt;
             int pkt_size;
 
             switch (enc->codec_type) {
@@ -1982,13 +1985,10 @@ static void flush_encoders(void)
                 av_assert0(0);
             }
 
-            av_init_packet(&pkt);
-            pkt.data = NULL;
-            pkt.size = 0;
-
             update_benchmark(NULL);
 
-            while ((ret = avcodec_receive_packet(enc, &pkt)) == AVERROR(EAGAIN)) {
+            av_packet_unref(pkt);
+            while ((ret = avcodec_receive_packet(enc, pkt)) == AVERROR(EAGAIN)) {
                 ret = avcodec_send_frame(enc, NULL);
                 if (ret < 0) {
                     av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_FATAL, "%s encoding failed: %s\n",
@@ -2009,16 +2009,16 @@ static void flush_encoders(void)
                 fprintf(ost->logfile, "%s", enc->stats_out);
             }
             if (ret == AVERROR_EOF) {
-                output_packet(of, &pkt, ost, 1);
+                output_packet(of, pkt, ost, 1);
                 break;
             }
             if (ost->finished & MUXER_FINISHED) {
-                av_packet_unref(&pkt);
+                av_packet_unref(pkt);
                 continue;
             }
-            av_packet_rescale_ts(&pkt, enc->time_base, ost->mux_timebase);
-            pkt_size = pkt.size;
-            output_packet(of, &pkt, ost, 0);
+            av_packet_rescale_ts(pkt, enc->time_base, ost->mux_timebase);
+            pkt_size = pkt->size;
+            output_packet(of, pkt, ost, 0);
             if (ost->enc_ctx->codec_type == AVMEDIA_TYPE_VIDEO && vstats_filename) {
                 do_video_stats(ost, pkt_size);
             }
@@ -2052,14 +2052,12 @@ static void do_streamcopy(InputStream *ist, OutputStream *ost, const AVPacket *p
     InputFile   *f = input_files [ist->file_index];
     int64_t start_time = (of->start_time == AV_NOPTS_VALUE) ? 0 : of->start_time;
     int64_t ost_tb_start_time = av_rescale_q(start_time, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ost->mux_timebase);
-    AVPacket opkt;
+    AVPacket *opkt = ost->pkt;
 
+    av_packet_unref(opkt);
     // EOF: flush output bitstream filters.
     if (!pkt) {
-        av_init_packet(&opkt);
-        opkt.data = NULL;
-        opkt.size = 0;
-        output_packet(of, &opkt, ost, 1);
+        output_packet(of, opkt, ost, 1);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -2097,30 +2095,30 @@ static void do_streamcopy(InputStream *ist, OutputStream *ost, const AVPacket *p
     if (ost->enc_ctx->codec_type == AVMEDIA_TYPE_VIDEO)
         ost->sync_opts++;
 
-    if (av_packet_ref(&opkt, pkt) < 0)
+    if (av_packet_ref(opkt, pkt) < 0)
         exit_program(1);
 
     if (pkt->pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
-        opkt.pts = av_rescale_q(pkt->pts, ist->st->time_base, ost->mux_timebase) - ost_tb_start_time;
+        opkt->pts = av_rescale_q(pkt->pts, ist->st->time_base, ost->mux_timebase) - ost_tb_start_time;
 
     if (pkt->dts == AV_NOPTS_VALUE) {
-        opkt.dts = av_rescale_q(ist->dts, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ost->mux_timebase);
+        opkt->dts = av_rescale_q(ist->dts, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ost->mux_timebase);
     } else if (ost->st->codecpar->codec_type == AVMEDIA_TYPE_AUDIO) {
         int duration = av_get_audio_frame_duration(ist->dec_ctx, pkt->size);
         if(!duration)
             duration = ist->dec_ctx->frame_size;
-        opkt.dts = av_rescale_delta(ist->st->time_base, pkt->dts,
+        opkt->dts = av_rescale_delta(ist->st->time_base, pkt->dts,
                                     (AVRational){1, ist->dec_ctx->sample_rate}, duration,
                                     &ist->filter_in_rescale_delta_last, ost->mux_timebase);
         /* dts will be set immediately afterwards to what pts is now */
-        opkt.pts = opkt.dts - ost_tb_start_time;
+        opkt->pts = opkt->dts - ost_tb_start_time;
     } else
-        opkt.dts = av_rescale_q(pkt->dts, ist->st->time_base, ost->mux_timebase);
-    opkt.dts -= ost_tb_start_time;
+        opkt->dts = av_rescale_q(pkt->dts, ist->st->time_base, ost->mux_timebase);
+    opkt->dts -= ost_tb_start_time;
 
-    opkt.duration = av_rescale_q(pkt->duration, ist->st->time_base, ost->mux_timebase);
+    opkt->duration = av_rescale_q(pkt->duration, ist->st->time_base, ost->mux_timebase);
 
-    output_packet(of, &opkt, ost, 0);
+    output_packet(of, opkt, ost, 0);
 }
 
 int guess_input_channel_layout(InputStream *ist)
@@ -2395,7 +2393,6 @@ static int decode_video(InputStream *ist, AVPacket *pkt, int *got_output, int64_
     int i, ret = 0, err = 0;
     int64_t best_effort_timestamp;
     int64_t dts = AV_NOPTS_VALUE;
-    AVPacket avpkt;
 
     // With fate-indeo3-2, we're getting 0-sized packets before EOF for some
     // reason. This seems like a semi-critical bug. Don't trigger EOF, and
@@ -2411,8 +2408,7 @@ static int decode_video(InputStream *ist, AVPacket *pkt, int *got_output, int64_
     if (ist->dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
         dts = av_rescale_q(ist->dts, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
     if (pkt) {
-        avpkt = *pkt;
-        avpkt.dts = dts; // ffmpeg.c probably shouldn't do this
+        pkt->dts = dts; // ffmpeg.c probably shouldn't do this
     }
 
     // The old code used to set dts on the drain packet, which does not work
@@ -2426,7 +2422,7 @@ static int decode_video(InputStream *ist, AVPacket *pkt, int *got_output, int64_
     }
 
     update_benchmark(NULL);
-    ret = decode(ist->dec_ctx, decoded_frame, got_output, pkt ? &avpkt : NULL);
+    ret = decode(ist->dec_ctx, decoded_frame, got_output, pkt);
     update_benchmark("decode_video %d.%d", ist->file_index, ist->st->index);
     if (ret < 0)
         *decode_failed = 1;
@@ -2585,6 +2581,8 @@ static int transcode_subtitles(InputStream *ist, AVPacket *pkt, int *got_output,
     for (i = 0; i < nb_output_streams; i++) {
         OutputStream *ost = output_streams[i];
 
+        if (!ost->pkt && !(ost->pkt = av_packet_alloc()))
+            exit_program(1);
         if (!check_output_constraints(ist, ost) || !ost->encoding_needed
             || ost->enc->type != AVMEDIA_TYPE_SUBTITLE)
             continue;
@@ -2620,7 +2618,12 @@ static int process_input_packet(InputStream *ist, const AVPacket *pkt, int no_eo
     int repeating = 0;
     int eof_reached = 0;
 
-    AVPacket avpkt;
+    AVPacket *avpkt;
+
+    if (!ist->pkt && !(ist->pkt = av_packet_alloc()))
+        return AVERROR(ENOMEM);
+    avpkt = ist->pkt;
+
     if (!ist->saw_first_ts) {
         ist->dts = ist->st->avg_frame_rate.num ? - ist->dec_ctx->has_b_frames * AV_TIME_BASE / av_q2d(ist->st->avg_frame_rate) : 0;
         ist->pts = 0;
@@ -2636,13 +2639,11 @@ static int process_input_packet(InputStream *ist, const AVPacket *pkt, int no_eo
     if (ist->next_pts == AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
         ist->next_pts = ist->pts;
 
-    if (!pkt) {
-        /* EOF handling */
-        av_init_packet(&avpkt);
-        avpkt.data = NULL;
-        avpkt.size = 0;
-    } else {
-        avpkt = *pkt;
+    if (pkt) {
+        av_packet_unref(avpkt);
+        ret = av_packet_ref(avpkt, pkt);
+        if (ret < 0)
+            return ret;
     }
 
     if (pkt && pkt->dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE) {
@@ -2663,11 +2664,12 @@ static int process_input_packet(InputStream *ist, const AVPacket *pkt, int no_eo
 
         switch (ist->dec_ctx->codec_type) {
         case AVMEDIA_TYPE_AUDIO:
-            ret = decode_audio    (ist, repeating ? NULL : &avpkt, &got_output,
+            ret = decode_audio    (ist, repeating ? NULL : avpkt, &got_output,
                                    &decode_failed);
+            av_packet_unref(avpkt);
             break;
         case AVMEDIA_TYPE_VIDEO:
-            ret = decode_video    (ist, repeating ? NULL : &avpkt, &got_output, &duration_pts, !pkt,
+            ret = decode_video    (ist, repeating ? NULL : avpkt, &got_output, &duration_pts, !pkt,
                                    &decode_failed);
             if (!repeating || !pkt || got_output) {
                 if (pkt && pkt->duration) {
@@ -2692,13 +2694,15 @@ static int process_input_packet(InputStream *ist, const AVPacket *pkt, int no_eo
                     ist->next_pts += duration_dts;
                 }
             }
+            av_packet_unref(avpkt);
             break;
         case AVMEDIA_TYPE_SUBTITLE:
             if (repeating)
                 break;
-            ret = transcode_subtitles(ist, &avpkt, &got_output, &decode_failed);
+            ret = transcode_subtitles(ist, avpkt, &got_output, &decode_failed);
             if (!pkt && ret >= 0)
                 ret = AVERROR_EOF;
+            av_packet_unref(avpkt);
             break;
         default:
             return -1;
@@ -2787,6 +2791,8 @@ static int process_input_packet(InputStream *ist, const AVPacket *pkt, int no_eo
     for (i = 0; i < nb_output_streams; i++) {
         OutputStream *ost = output_streams[i];
 
+        if (!ost->pkt && !(ost->pkt = av_packet_alloc()))
+            exit_program(1);
         if (!check_output_constraints(ist, ost) || ost->encoding_needed)
             continue;
 
@@ -3055,10 +3061,11 @@ static int check_init_output_file(OutputFile *of, int file_index)
             ost->mux_timebase = ost->st->time_base;
 
         while (av_fifo_size(ost->muxing_queue)) {
-            AVPacket pkt;
+            AVPacket *pkt;
             av_fifo_generic_read(ost->muxing_queue, &pkt, sizeof(pkt), NULL);
-            ost->muxing_queue_data_size -= pkt.size;
-            write_packet(of, &pkt, ost, 1);
+            ost->muxing_queue_data_size -= pkt->size;
+            write_packet(of, pkt, ost, 1);
+            av_packet_free(&pkt);
         }
     }
 
@@ -4078,12 +4085,12 @@ static int check_keyboard_interaction(int64_t cur_time)
 static void *input_thread(void *arg)
 {
     InputFile *f = arg;
+    AVPacket *pkt = f->pkt, *queue_pkt;
     unsigned flags = f->non_blocking ? AV_THREAD_MESSAGE_NONBLOCK : 0;
     int ret = 0;
 
     while (1) {
-        AVPacket pkt;
-        ret = av_read_frame(f->ctx, &pkt);
+        ret = av_read_frame(f->ctx, pkt);
 
         if (ret == AVERROR(EAGAIN)) {
             av_usleep(10000);
@@ -4093,10 +4100,17 @@ static void *input_thread(void *arg)
             av_thread_message_queue_set_err_recv(f->in_thread_queue, ret);
             break;
         }
-        ret = av_thread_message_queue_send(f->in_thread_queue, &pkt, flags);
+        queue_pkt = av_packet_alloc();
+        if (!queue_pkt) {
+            av_packet_unref(pkt);
+            av_thread_message_queue_set_err_recv(f->in_thread_queue, AVERROR(ENOMEM));
+            break;
+        }
+        av_packet_move_ref(queue_pkt, pkt);
+        ret = av_thread_message_queue_send(f->in_thread_queue, &queue_pkt, flags);
         if (flags && ret == AVERROR(EAGAIN)) {
             flags = 0;
-            ret = av_thread_message_queue_send(f->in_thread_queue, &pkt, flags);
+            ret = av_thread_message_queue_send(f->in_thread_queue, &queue_pkt, flags);
             av_log(f->ctx, AV_LOG_WARNING,
                    "Thread message queue blocking; consider raising the "
                    "thread_queue_size option (current value: %d)\n",
@@ -4107,7 +4121,7 @@ static void *input_thread(void *arg)
                 av_log(f->ctx, AV_LOG_ERROR,
                        "Unable to send packet to main thread: %s\n",
                        av_err2str(ret));
-            av_packet_unref(&pkt);
+            av_packet_free(&queue_pkt);
             av_thread_message_queue_set_err_recv(f->in_thread_queue, ret);
             break;
         }
@@ -4119,13 +4133,13 @@ static void *input_thread(void *arg)
 static void free_input_thread(int i)
 {
     InputFile *f = input_files[i];
-    AVPacket pkt;
+    AVPacket *pkt;
 
     if (!f || !f->in_thread_queue)
         return;
     av_thread_message_queue_set_err_send(f->in_thread_queue, AVERROR_EOF);
     while (av_thread_message_queue_recv(f->in_thread_queue, &pkt, 0) >= 0)
-        av_packet_unref(&pkt);
+        av_packet_free(&pkt);
 
     pthread_join(f->thread, NULL);
     f->joined = 1;
@@ -4154,7 +4168,7 @@ static int init_input_thread(int i)
         strcmp(f->ctx->iformat->name, "lavfi"))
         f->non_blocking = 1;
     ret = av_thread_message_queue_alloc(&f->in_thread_queue,
-                                        f->thread_queue_size, sizeof(AVPacket));
+                                        f->thread_queue_size, sizeof(f->pkt));
     if (ret < 0)
         return ret;
 
@@ -4179,7 +4193,7 @@ static int init_input_threads(void)
     return 0;
 }
 
-static int get_input_packet_mt(InputFile *f, AVPacket *pkt)
+static int get_input_packet_mt(InputFile *f, AVPacket **pkt)
 {
     return av_thread_message_queue_recv(f->in_thread_queue, pkt,
                                         f->non_blocking ?
@@ -4187,7 +4201,7 @@ static int get_input_packet_mt(InputFile *f, AVPacket *pkt)
 }
 #endif
 
-static int get_input_packet(InputFile *f, AVPacket *pkt)
+static int get_input_packet(InputFile *f, AVPacket **pkt)
 {
     if (f->rate_emu) {
         int i;
@@ -4204,7 +4218,8 @@ static int get_input_packet(InputFile *f, AVPacket *pkt)
     if (f->thread_queue_size)
         return get_input_packet_mt(f, pkt);
 #endif
-    return av_read_frame(f->ctx, pkt);
+    *pkt = f->pkt;
+    return av_read_frame(f->ctx, *pkt);
 }
 
 static int got_eagain(void)
@@ -4316,7 +4331,7 @@ static int process_input(int file_index)
     InputFile *ifile = input_files[file_index];
     AVFormatContext *is;
     InputStream *ist;
-    AVPacket pkt;
+    AVPacket *pkt;
     int ret, thread_ret, i, j;
     int64_t duration;
     int64_t pkt_dts;
@@ -4391,27 +4406,27 @@ static int process_input(int file_index)
     reset_eagain();
 
     if (do_pkt_dump) {
-        av_pkt_dump_log2(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, &pkt, do_hex_dump,
-                         is->streams[pkt.stream_index]);
+        av_pkt_dump_log2(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, pkt, do_hex_dump,
+                         is->streams[pkt->stream_index]);
     }
     /* the following test is needed in case new streams appear
        dynamically in stream : we ignore them */
-    if (pkt.stream_index >= ifile->nb_streams) {
-        report_new_stream(file_index, &pkt);
+    if (pkt->stream_index >= ifile->nb_streams) {
+        report_new_stream(file_index, pkt);
         goto discard_packet;
     }
 
-    ist = input_streams[ifile->ist_index + pkt.stream_index];
+    ist = input_streams[ifile->ist_index + pkt->stream_index];
 
-    ist->data_size += pkt.size;
+    ist->data_size += pkt->size;
     ist->nb_packets++;
 
     if (ist->discard)
         goto discard_packet;
 
-    if (pkt.flags & AV_PKT_FLAG_CORRUPT) {
+    if (pkt->flags & AV_PKT_FLAG_CORRUPT) {
         av_log(NULL, exit_on_error ? AV_LOG_FATAL : AV_LOG_WARNING,
-               "%s: corrupt input packet in stream %d\n", is->url, pkt.stream_index);
+               "%s: corrupt input packet in stream %d\n", is->url, pkt->stream_index);
         if (exit_on_error)
             exit_program(1);
     }
@@ -4419,11 +4434,11 @@ static int process_input(int file_index)
     if (debug_ts) {
         av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, "demuxer -> ist_index:%d type:%s "
                "next_dts:%s next_dts_time:%s next_pts:%s next_pts_time:%s pkt_pts:%s pkt_pts_time:%s pkt_dts:%s pkt_dts_time:%s off:%s off_time:%s\n",
-               ifile->ist_index + pkt.stream_index, av_get_media_type_string(ist->dec_ctx->codec_type),
+               ifile->ist_index + pkt->stream_index, av_get_media_type_string(ist->dec_ctx->codec_type),
                av_ts2str(ist->next_dts), av_ts2timestr(ist->next_dts, &AV_TIME_BASE_Q),
                av_ts2str(ist->next_pts), av_ts2timestr(ist->next_pts, &AV_TIME_BASE_Q),
-               av_ts2str(pkt.pts), av_ts2timestr(pkt.pts, &ist->st->time_base),
-               av_ts2str(pkt.dts), av_ts2timestr(pkt.dts, &ist->st->time_base),
+               av_ts2str(pkt->pts), av_ts2timestr(pkt->pts, &ist->st->time_base),
+               av_ts2str(pkt->dts), av_ts2timestr(pkt->dts, &ist->st->time_base),
                av_ts2str(input_files[ist->file_index]->ts_offset),
                av_ts2timestr(input_files[ist->file_index]->ts_offset, &AV_TIME_BASE_Q));
     }
@@ -4453,12 +4468,12 @@ static int process_input(int file_index)
         stime2= stime + (1ULL<<ist->st->pts_wrap_bits);
         ist->wrap_correction_done = 1;
 
-        if(stime2 > stime && pkt.dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE && pkt.dts > stime + (1LL<<(ist->st->pts_wrap_bits-1))) {
-            pkt.dts -= 1ULL<<ist->st->pts_wrap_bits;
+        if(stime2 > stime && pkt->dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE && pkt->dts > stime + (1LL<<(ist->st->pts_wrap_bits-1))) {
+            pkt->dts -= 1ULL<<ist->st->pts_wrap_bits;
             ist->wrap_correction_done = 0;
         }
-        if(stime2 > stime && pkt.pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE && pkt.pts > stime + (1LL<<(ist->st->pts_wrap_bits-1))) {
-            pkt.pts -= 1ULL<<ist->st->pts_wrap_bits;
+        if(stime2 > stime && pkt->pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE && pkt->pts > stime + (1LL<<(ist->st->pts_wrap_bits-1))) {
+            pkt->pts -= 1ULL<<ist->st->pts_wrap_bits;
             ist->wrap_correction_done = 0;
         }
     }
@@ -4472,10 +4487,10 @@ static int process_input(int file_index)
             if (src_sd->type == AV_PKT_DATA_DISPLAYMATRIX)
                 continue;
 
-            if (av_packet_get_side_data(&pkt, src_sd->type, NULL))
+            if (av_packet_get_side_data(pkt, src_sd->type, NULL))
                 continue;
 
-            dst_data = av_packet_new_side_data(&pkt, src_sd->type, src_sd->size);
+            dst_data = av_packet_new_side_data(pkt, src_sd->type, src_sd->size);
             if (!dst_data)
                 exit_program(1);
 
@@ -4483,17 +4498,17 @@ static int process_input(int file_index)
         }
     }
 
-    if (pkt.dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
-        pkt.dts += av_rescale_q(ifile->ts_offset, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
-    if (pkt.pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
-        pkt.pts += av_rescale_q(ifile->ts_offset, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
+    if (pkt->dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
+        pkt->dts += av_rescale_q(ifile->ts_offset, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
+    if (pkt->pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
+        pkt->pts += av_rescale_q(ifile->ts_offset, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
 
-    if (pkt.pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
-        pkt.pts *= ist->ts_scale;
-    if (pkt.dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
-        pkt.dts *= ist->ts_scale;
+    if (pkt->pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
+        pkt->pts *= ist->ts_scale;
+    if (pkt->dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
+        pkt->dts *= ist->ts_scale;
 
-    pkt_dts = av_rescale_q_rnd(pkt.dts, ist->st->time_base, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, AV_ROUND_NEAR_INF|AV_ROUND_PASS_MINMAX);
+    pkt_dts = av_rescale_q_rnd(pkt->dts, ist->st->time_base, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, AV_ROUND_NEAR_INF|AV_ROUND_PASS_MINMAX);
     if ((ist->dec_ctx->codec_type == AVMEDIA_TYPE_VIDEO ||
          ist->dec_ctx->codec_type == AVMEDIA_TYPE_AUDIO) &&
         pkt_dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE && ist->next_dts == AV_NOPTS_VALUE && !copy_ts
@@ -4505,27 +4520,27 @@ static int process_input(int file_index)
             av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_DEBUG,
                    "Inter stream timestamp discontinuity %"PRId64", new offset= %"PRId64"\n",
                    delta, ifile->ts_offset);
-            pkt.dts -= av_rescale_q(delta, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
-            if (pkt.pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
-                pkt.pts -= av_rescale_q(delta, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
+            pkt->dts -= av_rescale_q(delta, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
+            if (pkt->pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
+                pkt->pts -= av_rescale_q(delta, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
         }
     }
 
     duration = av_rescale_q(ifile->duration, ifile->time_base, ist->st->time_base);
-    if (pkt.pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE) {
-        pkt.pts += duration;
-        ist->max_pts = FFMAX(pkt.pts, ist->max_pts);
-        ist->min_pts = FFMIN(pkt.pts, ist->min_pts);
+    if (pkt->pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE) {
+        pkt->pts += duration;
+        ist->max_pts = FFMAX(pkt->pts, ist->max_pts);
+        ist->min_pts = FFMIN(pkt->pts, ist->min_pts);
     }
 
-    if (pkt.dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
-        pkt.dts += duration;
+    if (pkt->dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
+        pkt->dts += duration;
 
-    pkt_dts = av_rescale_q_rnd(pkt.dts, ist->st->time_base, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, AV_ROUND_NEAR_INF|AV_ROUND_PASS_MINMAX);
+    pkt_dts = av_rescale_q_rnd(pkt->dts, ist->st->time_base, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, AV_ROUND_NEAR_INF|AV_ROUND_PASS_MINMAX);
 
     if (copy_ts && pkt_dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE && ist->next_dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE &&
         (is->iformat->flags & AVFMT_TS_DISCONT) && ist->st->pts_wrap_bits < 60) {
-        int64_t wrap_dts = av_rescale_q_rnd(pkt.dts + (1LL<<ist->st->pts_wrap_bits),
+        int64_t wrap_dts = av_rescale_q_rnd(pkt->dts + (1LL<<ist->st->pts_wrap_bits),
                                             ist->st->time_base, AV_TIME_BASE_Q,
                                             AV_ROUND_NEAR_INF|AV_ROUND_PASS_MINMAX);
         if (FFABS(wrap_dts - ist->next_dts) < FFABS(pkt_dts - ist->next_dts)/10)
@@ -4548,46 +4563,51 @@ static int process_input(int file_index)
                        ist->file_index, ist->st->index, ist->st->id,
                        av_get_media_type_string(ist->dec_ctx->codec_type),
                        delta, ifile->ts_offset);
-                pkt.dts -= av_rescale_q(delta, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
-                if (pkt.pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
-                    pkt.pts -= av_rescale_q(delta, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
+                pkt->dts -= av_rescale_q(delta, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
+                if (pkt->pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
+                    pkt->pts -= av_rescale_q(delta, AV_TIME_BASE_Q, ist->st->time_base);
             }
         } else {
             if ( delta < -1LL*dts_error_threshold*AV_TIME_BASE ||
                  delta >  1LL*dts_error_threshold*AV_TIME_BASE) {
-                av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_WARNING, "DTS %"PRId64", next:%"PRId64" st:%d invalid dropping\n", pkt.dts, ist->next_dts, pkt.stream_index);
-                pkt.dts = AV_NOPTS_VALUE;
+                av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_WARNING, "DTS %"PRId64", next:%"PRId64" st:%d invalid dropping\n", pkt->dts, ist->next_dts, pkt->stream_index);
+                pkt->dts = AV_NOPTS_VALUE;
             }
-            if (pkt.pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE){
-                int64_t pkt_pts = av_rescale_q(pkt.pts, ist->st->time_base, AV_TIME_BASE_Q);
+            if (pkt->pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE){
+                int64_t pkt_pts = av_rescale_q(pkt->pts, ist->st->time_base, AV_TIME_BASE_Q);
                 delta   = pkt_pts - ist->next_dts;
                 if ( delta < -1LL*dts_error_threshold*AV_TIME_BASE ||
                      delta >  1LL*dts_error_threshold*AV_TIME_BASE) {
-                    av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_WARNING, "PTS %"PRId64", next:%"PRId64" invalid dropping st:%d\n", pkt.pts, ist->next_dts, pkt.stream_index);
-                    pkt.pts = AV_NOPTS_VALUE;
+                    av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_WARNING, "PTS %"PRId64", next:%"PRId64" invalid dropping st:%d\n", pkt->pts, ist->next_dts, pkt->stream_index);
+                    pkt->pts = AV_NOPTS_VALUE;
                 }
             }
         }
     }
 
-    if (pkt.dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
-        ifile->last_ts = av_rescale_q(pkt.dts, ist->st->time_base, AV_TIME_BASE_Q);
+    if (pkt->dts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
+        ifile->last_ts = av_rescale_q(pkt->dts, ist->st->time_base, AV_TIME_BASE_Q);
 
     if (debug_ts) {
         av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_INFO, "demuxer+ffmpeg -> ist_index:%d type:%s pkt_pts:%s pkt_pts_time:%s pkt_dts:%s pkt_dts_time:%s off:%s off_time:%s\n",
-               ifile->ist_index + pkt.stream_index, av_get_media_type_string(ist->dec_ctx->codec_type),
-               av_ts2str(pkt.pts), av_ts2timestr(pkt.pts, &ist->st->time_base),
-               av_ts2str(pkt.dts), av_ts2timestr(pkt.dts, &ist->st->time_base),
+               ifile->ist_index + pkt->stream_index, av_get_media_type_string(ist->dec_ctx->codec_type),
+               av_ts2str(pkt->pts), av_ts2timestr(pkt->pts, &ist->st->time_base),
+               av_ts2str(pkt->dts), av_ts2timestr(pkt->dts, &ist->st->time_base),
                av_ts2str(input_files[ist->file_index]->ts_offset),
                av_ts2timestr(input_files[ist->file_index]->ts_offset, &AV_TIME_BASE_Q));
     }
 
-    sub2video_heartbeat(ist, pkt.pts);
+    sub2video_heartbeat(ist, pkt->pts);
 
-    process_input_packet(ist, &pkt, 0);
+    process_input_packet(ist, pkt, 0);
 
 discard_packet:
-    av_packet_unref(&pkt);
+#if HAVE_THREADS
+    if (ifile->thread_queue_size)
+        av_packet_free(&pkt);
+    else
+#endif
+    av_packet_unref(pkt);
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/fftools/ffmpeg.h b/fftools/ffmpeg.h
index 8046e75026..913955cda1 100644
--- a/fftools/ffmpeg.h
+++ b/fftools/ffmpeg.h
@@ -308,6 +308,7 @@ typedef struct InputStream {
     AVCodec *dec;
     AVFrame *decoded_frame;
     AVFrame *filter_frame; /* a ref of decoded_frame, to be sent to filters */
+    AVPacket *pkt;
 
     int64_t       start;     /* time when read started */
     /* predicted dts of the next packet read for this stream or (when there are
@@ -416,6 +417,8 @@ typedef struct InputFile {
     int rate_emu;
     int accurate_seek;
 
+    AVPacket *pkt;
+
 #if HAVE_THREADS
     AVThreadMessageQueue *in_thread_queue;
     pthread_t thread;           /* thread reading from this file */
@@ -472,6 +475,7 @@ typedef struct OutputStream {
     int64_t max_frames;
     AVFrame *filtered_frame;
     AVFrame *last_frame;
+    AVPacket *pkt;
     int last_dropped;
     int last_nb0_frames[3];
 
diff --git a/fftools/ffmpeg_opt.c b/fftools/ffmpeg_opt.c
index bf2eb26246..cedd0b36d6 100644
--- a/fftools/ffmpeg_opt.c
+++ b/fftools/ffmpeg_opt.c
@@ -1279,6 +1279,9 @@ static int open_input_file(OptionsContext *o, const char *filename)
     f->loop = o->loop;
     f->duration = 0;
     f->time_base = (AVRational){ 1, 1 };
+    f->pkt = av_packet_alloc();
+    if (!f->pkt)
+        exit_program(1);
 #if HAVE_THREADS
     f->thread_queue_size = o->thread_queue_size;
 #endif
@@ -1570,7 +1573,7 @@ static OutputStream *new_output_stream(OptionsContext *o, AVFormatContext *oc, e
 
     ost->max_muxing_queue_size = 128;
     MATCH_PER_STREAM_OPT(max_muxing_queue_size, i, ost->max_muxing_queue_size, oc, st);
-    ost->max_muxing_queue_size *= sizeof(AVPacket);
+    ost->max_muxing_queue_size *= sizeof(ost->pkt);
 
     ost->muxing_queue_data_size = 0;
 
