diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gsth265decoder.c b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gsth265decoder.c
index 4731300417..201cc6b8c5 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gsth265decoder.c
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/gst-libs/gst/codecs/gsth265decoder.c
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@ gst_h265_decoder_init (GstH265Decoder * self)
   GstH265DecoderPrivate *priv;
 
   gst_video_decoder_set_packetized (GST_VIDEO_DECODER (self), TRUE);
+  gst_video_decoder_set_needs_format (GST_VIDEO_DECODER (self), TRUE);
 
   self->priv = priv = gst_h265_decoder_get_instance_private (self);