diff --git a/libavcodec/avcodec.c b/libavcodec/avcodec.c
index a6c8629f6c..b6d27ada21 100644
--- a/libavcodec/avcodec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/avcodec.c
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ end:
 
     return ret;
 free_and_end:
-    avcodec_close(avctx);
+    ff_codec_close(avctx);
     goto end;
 }
 
@@ -432,12 +432,12 @@ void avsubtitle_free(AVSubtitle *sub)
     memset(sub, 0, sizeof(*sub));
 }
 
-av_cold int avcodec_close(AVCodecContext *avctx)
+av_cold void ff_codec_close(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 {
     int i;
 
     if (!avctx)
-        return 0;
+        return;
 
     if (avcodec_is_open(avctx)) {
         AVCodecInternal *avci = avctx->internal;
@@ -497,9 +497,15 @@ av_cold int avcodec_close(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 
     avctx->codec = NULL;
     avctx->active_thread_type = 0;
+}
 
+#if FF_API_AVCODEC_CLOSE
+int avcodec_close(AVCodecContext *avctx)
+{
+    ff_codec_close(avctx);
     return 0;
 }
+#endif
 
 static const char *unknown_if_null(const char *str)
 {
diff --git a/libavcodec/avcodec.h b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
index 7fb44e28f4..0018ccbb0c 100644
--- a/libavcodec/avcodec.h
+++ b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
@@ -2411,6 +2411,7 @@ int avcodec_parameters_to_context(AVCodecContext *codec,
  */
 int avcodec_open2(AVCodecContext *avctx, const AVCodec *codec, AVDictionary **options);
 
+#if FF_API_AVCODEC_CLOSE
 /**
  * Close a given AVCodecContext and free all the data associated with it
  * (but not the AVCodecContext itself).
@@ -2419,12 +2420,14 @@ int avcodec_open2(AVCodecContext *avctx, const AVCodec *codec, AVDictionary **op
  * the codec-specific data allocated in avcodec_alloc_context3() with a non-NULL
  * codec. Subsequent calls will do nothing.
  *
- * @note Do not use this function. Use avcodec_free_context() to destroy a
+ * @deprecated Do not use this function. Use avcodec_free_context() to destroy a
  * codec context (either open or closed). Opening and closing a codec context
  * multiple times is not supported anymore -- use multiple codec contexts
  * instead.
  */
+attribute_deprecated
 int avcodec_close(AVCodecContext *avctx);
+#endif
 
 /**
  * Free all allocated data in the given subtitle struct.
diff --git a/libavcodec/avcodec_internal.h b/libavcodec/avcodec_internal.h
index 9b93ff3d81..4d1cb3a314 100644
--- a/libavcodec/avcodec_internal.h
+++ b/libavcodec/avcodec_internal.h
@@ -56,4 +56,6 @@ void ff_encode_flush_buffers(struct AVCodecContext *avctx);
 struct AVCodecInternal *ff_decode_internal_alloc(void);
 struct AVCodecInternal *ff_encode_internal_alloc(void);
 
+void ff_codec_close(struct AVCodecContext *avctx);
+
 #endif // AVCODEC_AVCODEC_INTERNAL_H
diff --git a/libavcodec/frame_thread_encoder.c b/libavcodec/frame_thread_encoder.c
index 62d9580ad4..cda5158117 100644
--- a/libavcodec/frame_thread_encoder.c
+++ b/libavcodec/frame_thread_encoder.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "libavutil/opt.h"
 #include "libavutil/thread.h"
 #include "avcodec.h"
+#include "avcodec_internal.h"
 #include "encode.h"
 #include "internal.h"
 #include "pthread_internal.h"
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ static void * attribute_align_arg worker(void *v){
         pthread_mutex_unlock(&c->finished_task_mutex);
     }
 end:
-    avcodec_close(avctx);
+    ff_codec_close(avctx);
     av_freep(&avctx);
     return NULL;
 }
@@ -230,7 +231,7 @@ av_cold int ff_frame_thread_encoder_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
 
     return 0;
 fail:
-    avcodec_close(thread_avctx);
+    ff_codec_close(thread_avctx);
     av_freep(&thread_avctx);
     avctx->thread_count = i;
     av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "ff_frame_thread_encoder_init failed\n");
diff --git a/libavcodec/options.c b/libavcodec/options.c
index a9b35ee1c3..05a355fb45 100644
--- a/libavcodec/options.c
+++ b/libavcodec/options.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "config_components.h"
 
 #include "avcodec.h"
+#include "avcodec_internal.h"
 #include "codec_internal.h"
 #include "libavutil/avassert.h"
 #include "libavutil/internal.h"
@@ -172,7 +173,7 @@ void avcodec_free_context(AVCodecContext **pavctx)
     if (!avctx)
         return;
 
-    avcodec_close(avctx);
+    ff_codec_close(avctx);
 
     av_freep(&avctx->extradata);
     av_freep(&avctx->subtitle_header);
diff --git a/libavcodec/version_major.h b/libavcodec/version_major.h
index b9164fe5c6..45209c0a4f 100644
--- a/libavcodec/version_major.h
+++ b/libavcodec/version_major.h
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 
 #define FF_API_AVFFT               (LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MAJOR < 62)
 #define FF_API_FF_PROFILE_LEVEL    (LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MAJOR < 62)
+#define FF_API_AVCODEC_CLOSE       (LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MAJOR < 62)
 
 // reminder to remove CrystalHD decoders on next major bump
 #define FF_CODEC_CRYSTAL_HD        (LIBAVCODEC_VERSION_MAJOR < 61)