diff --git a/ext/daala/gstdaaladec.c b/ext/daala/gstdaaladec.c
index 22327a2c1f..ceb8a5557e 100644
--- a/ext/daala/gstdaaladec.c
+++ b/ext/daala/gstdaaladec.c
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ gst_daala_dec_init (GstDaalaDec * dec)
   /* input is packetized,
    * but is not marked that way so data gets parsed and keyframes marked */
   gst_video_decoder_set_packetized (GST_VIDEO_DECODER (dec), FALSE);
+  gst_video_decoder_set_needs_format (GST_VIDEO_DECODER (dec), TRUE);
 }
 
 static void