diff --git a/transcode.py b/transcode.py
index a1b1383..7ceaed0 100644
--- a/transcode.py
+++ b/transcode.py
@@ -386,14 +386,17 @@ def transcode_file(input_file, output_file=None, skip_av1=True, replace_mode=Fal
         logging.warning(f"File vanished during checks: {input_path}")
         return
 
-    # 3. Check Codec
-    if skip_av1:
-        codec = get_video_codec(input_path)
-        if codec == "av1":
-            logging.info(leftalign(f"SKIP: Input file is already AV1: {input_path}"))
-            return
-        else:
-            logging.info(leftalign(f"Codec is {codec}"))
+    # 3. Check Codec (Combined step)
+    # We grab the codec here to check if we should skip, AND we save it to
+    # 'original_codec' so we don't have to re-scan the file at the end.
+    original_codec = get_video_codec(input_path)
+
+    if skip_av1 and original_codec == "av1":
+        logging.info(leftalign(f"SKIP: Input file is already AV1: {input_path}"))
+        return
+
+    if original_codec:
+        logging.info(leftalign(f"Codec is {original_codec}"))
 
     # Prepare individual FFmpeg log file
     ffmpeg_logs_dir = get_config_dir() / "ffmpeg_logs"
@@ -478,8 +481,6 @@ def transcode_file(input_file, output_file=None, skip_av1=True, replace_mode=Fal
 
             logging.debug(f"Transcoding duration was {transcoding_duration}.")
 
-            original_codec = get_video_codec(input_path)
-
             # Update cache for the NEW file (which is now AV1)
             # This ensures if we restart, we know this new file is already done
             if replace_mode and use_temp_file: