diff --git a/libavfilter/vf_blend_vulkan.c b/libavfilter/vf_blend_vulkan.c
index 530f4981c2..717efcee41 100644
--- a/libavfilter/vf_blend_vulkan.c
+++ b/libavfilter/vf_blend_vulkan.c
@@ -249,7 +249,8 @@ static int blend_frame(FFFrameSync *fs)
         if (top_fc->sw_format != bottom_fc->sw_format) {
             av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR,
                    "Currently the sw format of the bottom video need to match the top!\n");
-            return AVERROR(EINVAL);
+            err = AVERROR(EINVAL);
+            goto fail;
         }
         RET(init_filter(avctx));
     }