diff --git a/libavfilter/avfilter.c b/libavfilter/avfilter.c
index f31968f394..14ce55f932 100644
--- a/libavfilter/avfilter.c
+++ b/libavfilter/avfilter.c
@@ -457,6 +457,9 @@ int avfilter_process_command(AVFilterContext *filter, const char *cmd, const cha
 
 static AVFilter *first_filter;
 
+#if !FF_API_NOCONST_GET_NAME
+const
+#endif
 AVFilter *avfilter_get_by_name(const char *name)
 {
     const AVFilter *f = NULL;
diff --git a/libavfilter/avfilter.h b/libavfilter/avfilter.h
index 412b12391c..3518ad8b3b 100644
--- a/libavfilter/avfilter.h
+++ b/libavfilter/avfilter.h
@@ -991,6 +991,9 @@ int avfilter_register(AVFilter *filter);
  * @return     the filter definition, if any matching one is registered.
  *             NULL if none found.
  */
+#if !FF_API_NOCONST_GET_NAME
+const
+#endif
 AVFilter *avfilter_get_by_name(const char *name);
 
 /**
diff --git a/libavfilter/version.h b/libavfilter/version.h
index 541b869299..b9159a7fac 100644
--- a/libavfilter/version.h
+++ b/libavfilter/version.h
@@ -85,5 +85,8 @@
 #ifndef FF_API_DRAWTEXT_OLD_TIMELINE
 #define FF_API_DRAWTEXT_OLD_TIMELINE        (LIBAVFILTER_VERSION_MAJOR < 4)
 #endif
+#ifndef FF_API_NOCONST_GET_NAME
+#define FF_API_NOCONST_GET_NAME             (LIBAVFILTER_VERSION_MAJOR < 4)
+#endif
 
 #endif /* AVFILTER_VERSION_H */