diff --git a/avconv.c b/avconv.c
index 7be68043e5..24f6cd6221 100644
--- a/avconv.c
+++ b/avconv.c
@@ -3656,7 +3656,7 @@ static void opt_output_file(const char *filename)
     }
 
     /* copy global metadata by default */
-    if (metadata_global_autocopy)
+    if (metadata_global_autocopy && nb_input_files)
         av_dict_copy(&oc->metadata, input_files[0].ctx->metadata,
                      AV_DICT_DONT_OVERWRITE);
     if (metadata_streams_autocopy)