diff --git a/doc/examples/vaapi_encode.c b/doc/examples/vaapi_encode.c
index f66a4a7c48..6425b1c98c 100644
--- a/doc/examples/vaapi_encode.c
+++ b/doc/examples/vaapi_encode.c
@@ -217,8 +217,7 @@ close:
         fclose(fout);
     av_frame_free(&sw_frame);
     av_frame_free(&hw_frame);
-    if (avctx)
-        avcodec_free_context(&avctx);
+    avcodec_free_context(&avctx);
     av_buffer_unref(&hw_device_ctx);
 
     return err;