diff --git a/app/src/common/shared/org/mozilla/vrbrowser/ui/widgets/MediaControlsWidget.java b/app/src/common/shared/org/mozilla/vrbrowser/ui/widgets/MediaControlsWidget.java
index 42a881d1e3..bd9a8a5d84 100644
--- a/app/src/common/shared/org/mozilla/vrbrowser/ui/widgets/MediaControlsWidget.java
+++ b/app/src/common/shared/org/mozilla/vrbrowser/ui/widgets/MediaControlsWidget.java
@@ -278,7 +278,10 @@ public void setMedia(Media aMedia) {
         onTimeChange(mMedia.getMediaElement(), mMedia.getCurrentTime());
         onVolumeChange(mMedia.getMediaElement(), mMedia.getVolume(), mMedia.isMuted());
         onReadyStateChange(mMedia.getMediaElement(), mMedia.getReadyState());
-        onPlaybackStateChange(mMedia.getMediaElement(), mMedia.isPlaying() ? MediaElement.MEDIA_STATE_PLAY : MediaElement.MEDIA_STATE_PAUSE);
+        if (mMedia.isPlaying()) {
+            onPlaybackStateChange(mMedia.getMediaElement(), MediaElement.MEDIA_STATE_PLAY);
+        }
+
         mMedia.addMediaListener(this);
     }