diff --git a/media/base/media.cc b/media/base/media.cc
index 30c443e341b6d..9553ca7dd8157 100644
--- a/media/base/media.cc
+++ b/media/base/media.cc
@@ -45,8 +45,11 @@ class MediaInitializer {
     // Disable logging as it interferes with layout tests.
     av_log_set_level(AV_LOG_QUIET);
 
-#if PA_BUILDFLAG(USE_ALLOCATOR_SHIM)
+#if PA_BUILDFLAG(USE_ALLOCATOR_SHIM) || 1
     // Remove allocation limit from ffmpeg, so calls go down to shim layer.
+    // [POC] In production builds USE_ALLOCATOR_SHIM is true, so this branch
+    // is always taken. ASAN builds disable the shim; force-enable this call
+    // so the ASAN build matches production allocation behavior.
     av_max_alloc(std::numeric_limits<size_t>::max());
 #endif  // PA_BUILDFLAG(USE_ALLOCATOR_SHIM)