diff --git a/generic-pc/audio.cpp b/generic-pc/audio.cpp
index bb814e7..8641c4d 100644
--- a/generic-pc/audio.cpp
+++ b/generic-pc/audio.cpp
@@ -45,12 +45,15 @@ extern cDemux *audioDemux;
 static uint8_t *dmxbuf = NULL;
 static int bufpos;
 
+extern bool HAL_nodec;
+
 static cAudio *gThiz = NULL;
 
 cAudio::cAudio(void *, void *, void *)
 {
 	thread_started = false;
-	dmxbuf = (uint8_t *)malloc(DMX_BUF_SZ);
+	if (!HAL_nodec)
+		dmxbuf = (uint8_t *)malloc(DMX_BUF_SZ);
 	bufpos = 0;
 	curr_pts = 0;
 	gThiz = this;
@@ -89,7 +92,8 @@ int cAudio::setVolume(unsigned int left, unsigned int right)
 int cAudio::Start(void)
 {
 	lt_info("%s >\n", __func__);
-	OpenThreads::Thread::start();
+	if (! HAL_nodec)
+		OpenThreads::Thread::start();
 	lt_info("%s <\n", __func__);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/generic-pc/dmx.cpp b/generic-pc/dmx.cpp
index e771986..84f32cf 100644
--- a/generic-pc/dmx.cpp
+++ b/generic-pc/dmx.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ static const char *devname[] = {
 static int dmx_tp_count = 0;
 #define MAX_TS_COUNT 8
 
+extern bool HAL_nodec;
+
 cDemux::cDemux(int n)
 {
 	if (n < 0 || n > 2)
@@ -383,10 +385,14 @@ bool cDemux::pesFilter(const unsigned short pid)
 	case DMX_AUDIO_CHANNEL:
 		p_flt.pes_type = DMX_PES_OTHER;
 		p_flt.output  = DMX_OUT_TSDEMUX_TAP;
+		if (HAL_nodec)	/* no need to demux if we don't decode... */
+			return true;
 		break;
 	case DMX_VIDEO_CHANNEL:
 		p_flt.pes_type = DMX_PES_OTHER;
 		p_flt.output  = DMX_OUT_TSDEMUX_TAP;
+		if (HAL_nodec)
+			return true;
 		break;
 	case DMX_PES_CHANNEL:
 		p_flt.pes_type = DMX_PES_OTHER;
diff --git a/generic-pc/init.cpp b/generic-pc/init.cpp
index ad272f9..5fadc88 100644
--- a/generic-pc/init.cpp
+++ b/generic-pc/init.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 static bool initialized = false;
 GLFramebuffer *glfb = NULL;
+bool HAL_nodec = false;
 
 void init_td_api()
 {
@@ -35,6 +36,10 @@ void init_td_api()
 
 		glfb = new GLFramebuffer(x, y); /* hard coded to PAL resolution for now */
 	}
+	/* allow disabling of Audio/video decoders in case we just want to
+	 * valgrind-check other parts... export HAL_NOAVDEC=1 */
+	if (getenv("HAL_NOAVDEC"))
+		HAL_nodec = true;
 	initialized = true;
 }
 
diff --git a/generic-pc/video.cpp b/generic-pc/video.cpp
index 429c3d9..2b2cfe9 100644
--- a/generic-pc/video.cpp
+++ b/generic-pc/video.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ extern cDemux *videoDemux;
 extern GLFramebuffer *glfb;
 int system_rev = 0;
 
+extern bool HAL_nodec;
+
 static uint8_t *dmxbuf;
 static int bufpos;
 
@@ -66,7 +68,8 @@ cVideo::cVideo(int, void *, void *)
 {
 	lt_debug("%s\n", __func__);
 	av_register_all();
-	dmxbuf = (uint8_t *)malloc(DMX_BUF_SZ);
+	if (!HAL_nodec)
+		dmxbuf = (uint8_t *)malloc(DMX_BUF_SZ);
 	bufpos = 0;
 	thread_running = false;
 	w_h_changed = false;
@@ -135,7 +138,7 @@ int cVideo::setCroppingMode(int)
 int cVideo::Start(void *, unsigned short, unsigned short, void *)
 {
 	lt_info("%s running %d >\n", __func__, thread_running);
-	if (!thread_running)
+	if (!thread_running && !HAL_nodec)
 		OpenThreads::Thread::start();
 	lt_info("%s running %d <\n", __func__, thread_running);
 	return 0;