diff --git a/apps/aomdec.c b/apps/aomdec.c
index 2f5f6b0..58ac172 100644
--- a/apps/aomdec.c
+++ b/apps/aomdec.c
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@
   int opt_i420 = 0;
   int opt_raw = 0;
   aom_codec_dec_cfg_t cfg = { 0, 0, 0, CONFIG_LOWBITDEPTH, { 1 } };
-  unsigned int output_bit_depth = 0;
+  unsigned int fixed_output_bit_depth = 0;
   unsigned int is_annexb = 0;
   int frames_corrupted = 0;
   int dec_flags = 0;
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@
     } else if (arg_match(&arg, &continuearg, argi)) {
       keep_going = 1;
     } else if (arg_match(&arg, &outbitdeptharg, argi)) {
-      output_bit_depth = arg_parse_uint(&arg);
+      fixed_output_bit_depth = arg_parse_uint(&arg);
     } else if (arg_match(&arg, &isannexb, argi)) {
       is_annexb = 1;
       input.obu_ctx->is_annexb = 1;
@@ -843,8 +843,11 @@
           }
         }
         // Default to codec bit depth if output bit depth not set
-        if (!output_bit_depth && single_file && !do_md5) {
+        unsigned int output_bit_depth;
+        if (!fixed_output_bit_depth && single_file && !do_md5) {
           output_bit_depth = img->bit_depth;
+        } else {
+          output_bit_depth = fixed_output_bit_depth;
         }
         // Shift up or down if necessary
         if (output_bit_depth != 0)