diff --git a/libavcodec/mpegvideo_enc.c b/libavcodec/mpegvideo_enc.c
index d4e053297c..e87f4258fe 100644
--- a/libavcodec/mpegvideo_enc.c
+++ b/libavcodec/mpegvideo_enc.c
@@ -1123,10 +1123,10 @@ static int load_input_picture(MpegEncContext *s, const AVFrame *pic_arg)
     Picture *pic = NULL;
     int64_t pts;
     int i, display_picture_number = 0, ret;
-    int encoding_delay = s->max_b_frames ? s->max_b_frames :
-                                           (s->low_delay ? 0 : 1);
+    int encoding_delay = s->max_b_frames ? s->max_b_frames
+                                         : (s->low_delay ? 0 : 1);
+    int flush_offset = 1;
     int direct = 1;
-    int shift  = 1;
 
     if (pic_arg) {
         pts = pic_arg->pts;
@@ -1249,15 +1249,19 @@ static int load_input_picture(MpegEncContext *s, const AVFrame *pic_arg)
     } else {
         /* Flushing: When we have not received enough input frames,
          * ensure s->input_picture[0] contains the first picture */
-        for (shift = 0; shift < encoding_delay + 1; shift++)
-            if (s->input_picture[shift]) break;
-        if (shift <= 1) shift = 1;
-        else encoding_delay = encoding_delay - shift + 1;
+        for (flush_offset = 0; flush_offset < encoding_delay + 1; flush_offset++)
+            if (s->input_picture[flush_offset])
+                break;
+
+        if (flush_offset <= 1)
+            flush_offset = 1;
+        else
+            encoding_delay = encoding_delay - flush_offset + 1;
     }
 
     /* shift buffer entries */
-    for (i = shift; i < MAX_PICTURE_COUNT /*s->encoding_delay + 1*/; i++)
-        s->input_picture[i - shift] = s->input_picture[i];
+    for (i = flush_offset; i < MAX_PICTURE_COUNT /*s->encoding_delay + 1*/; i++)
+        s->input_picture[i - flush_offset] = s->input_picture[i];
 
     s->input_picture[encoding_delay] = (Picture*) pic;