diff --git a/libavcodec/frame_thread_encoder.c b/libavcodec/frame_thread_encoder.c
index 14f2ea241b..daeaaaa644 100644
--- a/libavcodec/frame_thread_encoder.c
+++ b/libavcodec/frame_thread_encoder.c
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ end:
 int ff_frame_thread_encoder_init(AVCodecContext *avctx, AVDictionary *options){
     int i=0;
     ThreadContext *c;
-
+    AVCodecContext *thread_avctx = NULL;
 
     if(   !(avctx->thread_type & FF_THREAD_FRAME)
        || !(avctx->codec->capabilities & AV_CODEC_CAP_INTRA_ONLY))
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ int ff_frame_thread_encoder_init(AVCodecContext *avctx, AVDictionary *options){
     for(i=0; i<avctx->thread_count ; i++){
         AVDictionary *tmp = NULL;
         void *tmpv;
-        AVCodecContext *thread_avctx = avcodec_alloc_context3(avctx->codec);
+        thread_avctx = avcodec_alloc_context3(avctx->codec);
         if(!thread_avctx)
             goto fail;
         tmpv = thread_avctx->priv_data;
@@ -218,6 +218,8 @@ int ff_frame_thread_encoder_init(AVCodecContext *avctx, AVDictionary *options){
 
     return 0;
 fail:
+    avcodec_close(thread_avctx);
+    av_freep(&thread_avctx);
     avctx->thread_count = i;
     av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "ff_frame_thread_encoder_init failed\n");
     ff_frame_thread_encoder_free(avctx);
diff --git a/libavcodec/frame_thread_encoder.h b/libavcodec/frame_thread_encoder.h
index 1da0ce1808..f6d02ad25b 100644
--- a/libavcodec/frame_thread_encoder.h
+++ b/libavcodec/frame_thread_encoder.h
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@
 
 #include "avcodec.h"
 
+/**
+ * Initialize frame thread encoder.
+ * @note hardware encoders are not supported
+ */
 int ff_frame_thread_encoder_init(AVCodecContext *avctx, AVDictionary *options);
 void ff_frame_thread_encoder_free(AVCodecContext *avctx);
 int ff_thread_video_encode_frame(AVCodecContext *avctx, AVPacket *pkt, const AVFrame *frame, int *got_packet_ptr);