A device for encoding video data includes a memory configured to store at least a portion of a multi-layer bitstream of video data and one or more processors configured to determine that a supplemental enhancement information (SEI) message applies to more than one layer of the multi-layer video data; determine that the SEI message references a syntax element that has multiple instances associated with the more than one layer of the multi-layer video data; and set all of the multiple instances to a same value.