diff --git a/ffprobe.c b/ffprobe.c
index a2a9c2ad367277209dda7e3025856207ea2f489d..a2b27c37459a673f7c159bcb568b580c46b81a3b 100644
--- a/ffprobe.c
+++ b/ffprobe.c
@@ -400,8 +400,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     avdevice_register_all();
 #endif
 
-    avformat_opts = avformat_alloc_context();
-
     show_banner();
     parse_options(argc, argv, options, opt_input_file);