diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b93ec71..fbd3ce2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ Dependencies
 
 You will need these to compile libgroove.
 
-* [cmake](http://www.cmake.org/)
-* [libav](http://libav.org)
+* [cmake](http://www.cmake.org/) >= 2.8.5
+* [libav](http://libav.org) >= 3.0
   * suggested flags: `--enable-shared --disable-static --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libvorbis --enable-gpl`
 * [libebur128](https://github.com/jiixyj/libebur128)
   * make sure it is compiled with the speex dependency so that true peak
diff --git a/groove/encoder.c b/groove/encoder.c
index 42a55bd..d9f25ca 100644
--- a/groove/encoder.c
+++ b/groove/encoder.c
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ static int encode_buffer(struct GrooveEncoder *encoder, struct GrooveBuffer *buf
         return -1;
 
     av_write_frame(e->fmt_ctx, &e->pkt);
-    av_free_packet(&e->pkt);
+    av_packet_unref(&e->pkt);
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/groove/file.c b/groove/file.c
index bc3c6ad..fe54c48 100644
--- a/groove/file.c
+++ b/groove/file.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ void groove_file_close(struct GrooveFile *file) {
     if (f->audio_stream_index >= 0) {
         AVCodecContext *avctx = f->ic->streams[f->audio_stream_index]->codec;
 
-        av_free_packet(&f->audio_pkt);
+        av_packet_unref(&f->audio_pkt);
 
         f->ic->streams[f->audio_stream_index]->discard = AVDISCARD_ALL;
         avcodec_close(avctx);
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ static int tempfileify(char * str, size_t max_len) {
 static void cleanup_save(struct GrooveFile *file) {
     struct GrooveFilePrivate *f = (struct GrooveFilePrivate *) file;
 
-    av_free_packet(&f->audio_pkt);
+    av_packet_unref(&f->audio_pkt);
     avio_closep(&f->oc->pb);
     if (f->tempfile_exists) {
         if (remove(f->oc->filename) != 0)
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ int groove_file_save(struct GrooveFile *file) {
             av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_ERROR, "error writing frame\n");
             return -1;
         }
-        av_free_packet(pkt);
+        av_packet_unref(pkt);
     }
 
     if (av_write_trailer(f->oc) < 0) {
diff --git a/groove/playlist.c b/groove/playlist.c
index 0230d03..709f8cf 100644
--- a/groove/playlist.c
+++ b/groove/playlist.c
@@ -595,11 +595,11 @@ static int decode_one_frame(struct GroovePlaylist *playlist, struct GrooveFile *
     }
     if (pkt->stream_index != f->audio_stream_index) {
         // we're only interested in the One True Audio Stream
-        av_free_packet(pkt);
+        av_packet_unref(pkt);
         return 0;
     }
     audio_decode_frame(playlist, file);
-    av_free_packet(pkt);
+    av_packet_unref(pkt);
     return 0;
 }