diff --git a/libavcodec/avcodec.h b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
index e32f57983c..1923c9648d 100644
--- a/libavcodec/avcodec.h
+++ b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
@@ -4572,7 +4572,7 @@ int av_packet_shrink_side_data(AVPacket *pkt, enum AVPacketSideDataType type,
  * @param size pointer for side information size to store (optional)
  * @return pointer to data if present or NULL otherwise
  */
-uint8_t* av_packet_get_side_data(AVPacket *pkt, enum AVPacketSideDataType type,
+uint8_t* av_packet_get_side_data(const AVPacket *pkt, enum AVPacketSideDataType type,
                                  int *size);
 
 int av_packet_merge_side_data(AVPacket *pkt);
diff --git a/libavcodec/avpacket.c b/libavcodec/avpacket.c
index 60269aa63d..3ea2511dea 100644
--- a/libavcodec/avpacket.c
+++ b/libavcodec/avpacket.c
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ uint8_t *av_packet_new_side_data(AVPacket *pkt, enum AVPacketSideDataType type,
     return data;
 }
 
-uint8_t *av_packet_get_side_data(AVPacket *pkt, enum AVPacketSideDataType type,
+uint8_t *av_packet_get_side_data(const AVPacket *pkt, enum AVPacketSideDataType type,
                                  int *size)
 {
     int i;