diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/va/gstvaav1dec.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/va/gstvaav1dec.c
index e7e64ab44b..b18667f540 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/va/gstvaav1dec.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/sys/va/gstvaav1dec.c
@@ -95,9 +95,12 @@ gst_va_av1_dec_negotiate (GstVideoDecoder * decoder)
   GstVaAV1Dec *self = GST_VA_AV1_DEC (decoder);
   GstVaBaseDec *base = GST_VA_BASE_DEC (decoder);
 
-  /* Ignore downstream renegotiation request. */
-  if (!base->need_negotiation)
-    return TRUE;
+  /* Do not (re-)open the decoder in case the input state hasn't changed. */
+  if (!base->need_negotiation) {
+    GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (decoder,
+        "Input state hasn't changed, no need to (re-)open the decoder");
+    goto done;
+  }
 
   base->need_negotiation = FALSE;
 
@@ -128,6 +131,7 @@ gst_va_av1_dec_negotiate (GstVideoDecoder * decoder)
   }
   self->preferred_format = GST_VIDEO_INFO_FORMAT (&base->output_state->info);
 
+done:
   return GST_VIDEO_DECODER_CLASS (parent_class)->negotiate (decoder);
 }