diff --git a/docker/main/rootfs/usr/local/go2rtc/create_config.py b/docker/main/rootfs/usr/local/go2rtc/create_config.py
index 6229586e5..f1b0cfe53 100644
--- a/docker/main/rootfs/usr/local/go2rtc/create_config.py
+++ b/docker/main/rootfs/usr/local/go2rtc/create_config.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import json
 import os
+import shutil
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ else:
 # ensure ffmpeg path is set correctly
 path = config.get("ffmpeg", {}).get("path", "default")
 if path == "default":
-    if int(os.getenv("", "59") or "59") >= 59:
+    if shutil.which("ffmpeg") is None:
         ffmpeg_path = "/usr/lib/ffmpeg/7.0/bin/ffmpeg"
     else:
         ffmpeg_path = "ffmpeg"
diff --git a/frigate/config.py b/frigate/config.py
index 7e557f0a3..b63bbb44e 100644
--- a/frigate/config.py
+++ b/frigate/config.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import json
 import logging
 import os
+import shutil
 from enum import Enum
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple, Union
@@ -888,7 +889,7 @@ class FfmpegConfig(FrigateBaseModel):
     @property
     def ffmpeg_path(self) -> str:
         if self.path == "default":
-            if int(os.getenv("LIBAVFORMAT_VERSION_MAJOR", "59")) >= 59:
+            if shutil.which("ffmpeg") is None:
                 return "/usr/lib/ffmpeg/7.0/bin/ffmpeg"
             else:
                 return "ffmpeg"