diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 70072d276..fd855734b 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ rearrangements of Notcurses.
   * `ncvisual_from_plane()`, `ncplane_move_below_unsafe()`, `ncplane_dup()`,
     and `ncplane_move_above_unsafe()` now accept `const` arguments where they
     did not before.
+  * `notcurses_canopen()` has been split into `notcurses_canopen_images()` and
+    `notcurses_canopen_videos()`.
 
 * 1.4.1 (2020-05-11)
   * No user-visible changes (fixed two unit tests).
diff --git a/USAGE.md b/USAGE.md
index fbc036ed9..94d4e8b99 100644
--- a/USAGE.md
+++ b/USAGE.md
@@ -225,8 +225,11 @@ int notcurses_palette_size(const struct notcurses* nc);
 // Can we fade? Fading requires either the "rgb" or "ccc" terminfo capability.
 bool notcurses_canfade(const struct notcurses* nc);
 
-// Can we load images/videos? This requires being built against FFmpeg.
-bool notcurses_canopen(const struct notcurses* nc);
+// Can we load images? This requires being built against FFmpeg/OIIO.
+bool notcurses_canopen_images(const struct notcurses* nc);
+
+// Can we load videos? This requires being built against FFmpeg.
+bool notcurses_canopen_videos(const struct notcurses* nc);
 
 // Can we change colors in the hardware palette? Requires "ccc" and "initc".
 bool notcurses_canchangecolors(const struct notcurses* nc);
diff --git a/include/ncpp/NotCurses.hh b/include/ncpp/NotCurses.hh
index 0015014af..f5eb9a26c 100644
--- a/include/ncpp/NotCurses.hh
+++ b/include/ncpp/NotCurses.hh
@@ -101,9 +101,14 @@ namespace ncpp
 			return notcurses_canfade (nc);
 		}
 
-		bool can_open () const noexcept
+		bool can_open_images () const noexcept
 		{
-			return notcurses_canopen (nc);
+			return notcurses_canopen_images (nc);
+		}
+
+		bool can_open_videos () const noexcept
+		{
+			return notcurses_canopen_videos (nc);
 		}
 
 		bool can_change_color () const noexcept
diff --git a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
index ed166c0e2..55f3188cf 100644
--- a/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
+++ b/include/notcurses/notcurses.h
@@ -1028,8 +1028,11 @@ API bool notcurses_canfade(const struct notcurses* nc);
 // Can we set the "hardware" palette? Requires the "ccc" terminfo capability.
 API bool notcurses_canchangecolor(const struct notcurses* nc);
 
-// Can we load images/videos? This requires being built against FFmpeg.
-API bool notcurses_canopen(const struct notcurses* nc);
+// Can we load images? This requires being built against FFmpeg/OIIO.
+API bool notcurses_canopen_images(const struct notcurses* nc);
+
+// Can we load videos? This requires being built against FFmpeg.
+API bool notcurses_canopen_videos(const struct notcurses* nc);
 
 // Is our encoding UTF-8?
 API bool notcurses_canutf8(const struct notcurses* nc);
diff --git a/src/demo/chunli.c b/src/demo/chunli.c
index 79204eb56..db3e32200 100644
--- a/src/demo/chunli.c
+++ b/src/demo/chunli.c
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ chunli_draw(struct notcurses* nc, const char* ext, int count, const cell* b){
 
 // test of sprites from files
 int chunli_demo(struct notcurses* nc){
-  if(!notcurses_canopen(nc)){
+  if(!notcurses_canopen_images(nc)){
     return 0;
   }
   struct timespec iterdelay;
diff --git a/src/demo/eagle.c b/src/demo/eagle.c
index fefc086c5..1dc5610b4 100644
--- a/src/demo/eagle.c
+++ b/src/demo/eagle.c
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ eagles(struct notcurses* nc){
 
 // motherfucking eagles!
 int eagle_demo(struct notcurses* nc){
-  if(!notcurses_canopen(nc)){
+  if(!notcurses_canopen_images(nc)){
     return 0;
   }
   char* map = find_data("eagles.png");
diff --git a/src/demo/luigi.c b/src/demo/luigi.c
index 28e4cd430..5a651197f 100644
--- a/src/demo/luigi.c
+++ b/src/demo/luigi.c
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ draw_luigi(struct ncplane* n, const char* sprite){
 }
 
 int luigi_demo(struct notcurses* nc){
-  if(!notcurses_canopen(nc)){
+  if(!notcurses_canopen_images(nc)){
     return 0;
   }
   int rows, cols;
diff --git a/src/demo/outro.c b/src/demo/outro.c
index ee51cd833..a08672ad1 100644
--- a/src/demo/outro.c
+++ b/src/demo/outro.c
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ outro_message(struct notcurses* nc, int* rows, int* cols){
 }
 
 int outro(struct notcurses* nc){
-  if(!notcurses_canopen(nc)){
+  if(!notcurses_canopen_images(nc)){
     return 0;
   }
   int rows, cols;
@@ -150,14 +150,16 @@ int outro(struct notcurses* nc){
   y = ystart - 1;
   DEMO_RENDER(nc);
   ncplane_move_top(on);
-  pthread_t tid;
-  // will fade across 2 * demodelay
-  targy = 3;
-  pthread_create(&tid, NULL, fadethread, nc);
-  void* ret;
-  pthread_join(tid, &ret);
-  if(ret == PTHREAD_CANCELED){
-    return 1;
+  if(notcurses_canopen_videos(nc)){
+    pthread_t tid;
+    // will fade across 2 * demodelay
+    targy = 3;
+    pthread_create(&tid, NULL, fadethread, nc);
+    void* ret;
+    pthread_join(tid, &ret);
+    if(ret == PTHREAD_CANCELED){
+      return 1;
+    }
   }
   ncplane_fadeout(on, &demodelay, demo_fader, NULL);
   ncplane_destroy(on);
diff --git a/src/demo/view.c b/src/demo/view.c
index 1bd35584f..3f126d9a5 100644
--- a/src/demo/view.c
+++ b/src/demo/view.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ legend(struct notcurses* nc, int dimy, int dimx){
 }
 
 int view_demo(struct notcurses* nc){
-  if(!notcurses_canopen(nc)){
+  if(!notcurses_canopen_images(nc)){
     return 0;
   }
   int dimy, dimx;
@@ -135,7 +135,10 @@ int view_demo(struct notcurses* nc){
   if(ncpl == NULL){
     return -1;
   }
-  int ret = view_video_demo(nc);
+  int ret = 0;
+  if(notcurses_canopen_videos(nc)){
+    ret |= view_video_demo(nc);
+  }
   ncplane_destroy(ncpl);
   return ret;
 }
diff --git a/src/demo/xray.c b/src/demo/xray.c
index a3837e65d..9f5113c8f 100644
--- a/src/demo/xray.c
+++ b/src/demo/xray.c
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ perframecb(struct notcurses* nc, struct ncvisual* ncv __attribute__ ((unused)),
 }
 
 int xray_demo(struct notcurses* nc){
-  if(!notcurses_canopen(nc)){
+  if(!notcurses_canopen_videos(nc)){
     return 0;
   }
   int dimx, dimy;
diff --git a/src/lib/visual.cpp b/src/lib/visual.cpp
index da3489b47..76068543b 100644
--- a/src/lib/visual.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/visual.cpp
@@ -363,7 +363,11 @@ void ncvisual_destroy(ncvisual* ncv){
   }
 }
 
-bool notcurses_canopen(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
+bool notcurses_canopen_images(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
+  return true;
+}
+
+bool notcurses_canopen_videos(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -785,7 +789,11 @@ int ncvisual_init(int loglevel){
 } // extern "C"
 #else // built without ffmpeg
 #ifndef USE_OIIO // built without ffmpeg or oiio
-bool notcurses_canopen(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
+bool notcurses_canopen_images(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool notcurses_canopen_videos(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
   return false;
 }
 
@@ -840,10 +848,14 @@ void ncvisual_destroy(ncvisual* ncv){
 }
 #else
 #ifdef USE_OIIO
-bool notcurses_canopen(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
+bool notcurses_canopen_images(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
   return true;
 }
 
+bool notcurses_canopen_videos(const notcurses* nc __attribute__ ((unused))){
+  return false; // too slow for reliable use at the moment
+}
+
 static ncvisual*
 ncvisual_open(const char* filename, nc_err_e* err){
   *ncerr = NCERR_SUCCESS;
diff --git a/src/poc/multiselect.c b/src/poc/multiselect.c
index c5312438a..e12c7f20a 100644
--- a/src/poc/multiselect.c
+++ b/src/poc/multiselect.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ int main(void){
   channels_set_bg_alpha(&sopts.bgchannels, CELL_ALPHA_BLEND);
   struct ncplane* n = notcurses_stdplane(nc);
 
-  if(notcurses_canopen(nc)){
+  if(notcurses_canopen_images(nc)){
     nc_err_e err;
     struct ncvisual* ncv = ncplane_visual_open(n, "../data/covid19.jpg", &err);
     if(!ncv){
diff --git a/src/poc/selector.c b/src/poc/selector.c
index 6a480e158..d449b5cc2 100644
--- a/src/poc/selector.c
+++ b/src/poc/selector.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ int main(void){
   channels_set_bg_alpha(&sopts.bgchannels, CELL_ALPHA_BLEND);
   struct ncplane* n = notcurses_stdplane(nc);
 
-  if(notcurses_canopen(nc)){
+  if(notcurses_canopen_images(nc)){
     nc_err_e err;
     struct ncvisual* ncv = ncplane_visual_open(n, "../data/changes.jpg", &err);
     if(!ncv){
diff --git a/src/view/view.cpp b/src/view/view.cpp
index b41e2a101..aeb718b60 100644
--- a/src/view/view.cpp
+++ b/src/view/view.cpp
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ auto main(int argc, char** argv) -> int {
   NCScale stretchmode;
   auto nonopt = handle_opts(argc, argv, NotCurses::default_notcurses_options, &timescale, &stretchmode);
   NotCurses nc;
-  if(!nc.can_open()){
+  if(!nc.can_open_images()){
     nc.stop();
     std::cerr << "Notcurses was compiled without multimedia support\n";
     return EXIT_FAILURE;
diff --git a/tests/visual.cpp b/tests/visual.cpp
index a3cb91520..4b519a4ca 100644
--- a/tests/visual.cpp
+++ b/tests/visual.cpp
@@ -16,12 +16,13 @@ TEST_CASE("Visual") {
   REQUIRE(ncp_);
 
 #ifndef USE_MULTIMEDIA
-  SUBCASE("LibavDisabled"){
-    REQUIRE(!notcurses_canopen(nc_));
+  SUBCASE("VisualDisabled"){
+    REQUIRE(!notcurses_canopen_images(nc_));
+    REQUIRE(!notcurses_canopen_videos(nc_));
   }
 #else
-  SUBCASE("LibavEnabled"){
-    REQUIRE(notcurses_canopen(nc_));
+  SUBCASE("ImagesEnabled"){
+    REQUIRE(notcurses_canopen_images(nc_));
   }
 
   SUBCASE("LoadImageCreatePlane") {
@@ -87,40 +88,44 @@ TEST_CASE("Visual") {
   }
 
   SUBCASE("LoadVideo") {
-    nc_err_e ncerr = NCERR_SUCCESS;
-    int dimy, dimx;
-    ncplane_dim_yx(ncp_, &dimy, &dimx);
-    auto ncv = ncplane_visual_open(ncp_, find_data("notcursesI.avi"), &ncerr);
-    REQUIRE(ncv);
-    CHECK(NCERR_SUCCESS == ncerr);
-    for(;;){ // run at the highest speed we can
-      ncerr = ncvisual_decode(ncv);
-      if(NCERR_EOF == ncerr){
-        break;
+    if(notcurses_canopen_videos(nc_)){
+      nc_err_e ncerr = NCERR_SUCCESS;
+      int dimy, dimx;
+      ncplane_dim_yx(ncp_, &dimy, &dimx);
+      auto ncv = ncplane_visual_open(ncp_, find_data("notcursesI.avi"), &ncerr);
+      REQUIRE(ncv);
+      CHECK(NCERR_SUCCESS == ncerr);
+      for(;;){ // run at the highest speed we can
+        ncerr = ncvisual_decode(ncv);
+        if(NCERR_EOF == ncerr){
+          break;
+        }
+        CHECK(NCERR_SUCCESS == ncerr);
+        /*CHECK(dimy * 2 == frame->height);
+        CHECK(dimx == frame->width); FIXME */
+        CHECK(0 < ncvisual_render(ncv, 0, 0, -1, -1));
+        CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
       }
+      ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
+    }
+  }
+
+  SUBCASE("LoadVideoCreatePlane") {
+    if(notcurses_canopen_videos(nc_)){
+      nc_err_e ncerr = NCERR_SUCCESS;
+      int dimy, dimx;
+      ncplane_dim_yx(ncp_, &dimy, &dimx);
+      auto ncv = ncvisual_from_file(nc_, find_data("notcursesI.avi"), &ncerr, 0, 0, NCSCALE_STRETCH);
+      REQUIRE(ncv);
+      CHECK(NCERR_SUCCESS == ncerr);
+      ncerr = ncvisual_decode(ncv);
       CHECK(NCERR_SUCCESS == ncerr);
       /*CHECK(dimy * 2 == frame->height);
       CHECK(dimx == frame->width); FIXME */
       CHECK(0 < ncvisual_render(ncv, 0, 0, -1, -1));
       CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
+      ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
     }
-    ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
-  }
-
-  SUBCASE("LoadVideoCreatePlane") {
-    nc_err_e ncerr = NCERR_SUCCESS;
-    int dimy, dimx;
-    ncplane_dim_yx(ncp_, &dimy, &dimx);
-    auto ncv = ncvisual_from_file(nc_, find_data("notcursesI.avi"), &ncerr, 0, 0, NCSCALE_STRETCH);
-    REQUIRE(ncv);
-    CHECK(NCERR_SUCCESS == ncerr);
-    ncerr = ncvisual_decode(ncv);
-    CHECK(NCERR_SUCCESS == ncerr);
-    /*CHECK(dimy * 2 == frame->height);
-    CHECK(dimx == frame->width); FIXME */
-    CHECK(0 < ncvisual_render(ncv, 0, 0, -1, -1));
-    CHECK(0 == notcurses_render(nc_));
-    ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
   }
 #endif