diff --git a/libavfilter/vf_libplacebo.c b/libavfilter/vf_libplacebo.c
index d15c89b51e..bd5abb0b40 100644
--- a/libavfilter/vf_libplacebo.c
+++ b/libavfilter/vf_libplacebo.c
@@ -940,7 +940,11 @@ static int output_frame(AVFilterContext *ctx, int64_t pts)
         if (!cropped && cur->repr.alpha == PL_ALPHA_NONE) {
             idx_start = i;
             nb_visible = 0;
+            ref = NULL;
         }
+        /* Use first visible input as overall reference */
+        if (!ref)
+            ref = ref_frame(&in->mix);
         nb_visible++;
     }
 
@@ -948,15 +952,6 @@ static int output_frame(AVFilterContext *ctx, int64_t pts)
      * valid nonempty frame mix */
     av_assert1(nb_visible > 0);
 
-    /* Use the first active input as metadata reference */
-    for (int i = 0; i < s->nb_inputs; i++) {
-        const LibplaceboInput *in = &s->inputs[i];
-        if (in->qstatus == PL_QUEUE_OK && (ref = ref_frame(&in->mix)))
-            break;
-    }
-    if (!ref)
-        return 0;
-
     out = ff_get_video_buffer(outlink, outlink->w, outlink->h);
     if (!out)
         return AVERROR(ENOMEM);