diff --git a/libavcodec/avcodec.h b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
index 4f24f729ac..b139a8a9ea 100644
--- a/libavcodec/avcodec.h
+++ b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
@@ -777,6 +777,10 @@ typedef struct RcOverride{
  * Codec supports changed parameters at any point.
  */
 #define CODEC_CAP_PARAM_CHANGE     0x4000
+/**
+ * Codec supports avctx->thread_count == 0 (auto).
+ */
+#define CODEC_CAP_AUTO_THREADS     0x8000
 
 //The following defines may change, don't expect compatibility if you use them.
 #define MB_TYPE_INTRA4x4   0x0001
diff --git a/libavcodec/libx264.c b/libavcodec/libx264.c
index c52580860b..9b347951fd 100644
--- a/libavcodec/libx264.c
+++ b/libavcodec/libx264.c
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ AVCodec ff_libx264_encoder = {
     .init           = X264_init,
     .encode         = X264_frame,
     .close          = X264_close,
-    .capabilities   = CODEC_CAP_DELAY,
+    .capabilities   = CODEC_CAP_DELAY | CODEC_CAP_AUTO_THREADS,
     .long_name      = NULL_IF_CONFIG_SMALL("libx264 H.264 / AVC / MPEG-4 AVC / MPEG-4 part 10"),
     .priv_class     = &class,
     .defaults       = x264_defaults,
diff --git a/libavcodec/pthread.c b/libavcodec/pthread.c
index 400abf4f6c..54a0eb3ab7 100644
--- a/libavcodec/pthread.c
+++ b/libavcodec/pthread.c
@@ -982,6 +982,9 @@ static void validate_thread_parameters(AVCodecContext *avctx)
     } else if (avctx->codec->capabilities & CODEC_CAP_SLICE_THREADS &&
                avctx->thread_type & FF_THREAD_SLICE) {
         avctx->active_thread_type = FF_THREAD_SLICE;
+    } else if (!(avctx->codec->capabilities & CODEC_CAP_AUTO_THREADS)) {
+        avctx->thread_count       = 1;
+        avctx->active_thread_type = 0;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/libavcodec/version.h b/libavcodec/version.h
index e6226cb224..1317ef0ddc 100644
--- a/libavcodec/version.h
+++ b/libavcodec/version.h
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 #define LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MAJOR 53
 #define LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MINOR 32
-#define LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MICRO  1
+#define LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MICRO  2
 
 #define LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_INT  AV_VERSION_INT(LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MAJOR, \
                                                LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MINOR, \