diff --git a/libavcodec/get_bits.h b/libavcodec/get_bits.h
index 3967b49b51..af07d6f04b 100644
--- a/libavcodec/get_bits.h
+++ b/libavcodec/get_bits.h
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ typedef struct VLC {
     int bits;
     VLC_TYPE (*table)[2]; ///< code, bits
     int table_size, table_allocated;
-    void *init_state;
+    volatile void *init_state;
 } VLC;
 
 typedef struct RL_VLC_ELEM {