diff --git a/lib/player.js b/lib/player.js
index 1d2f2a6c2e..169fa92697 100644
--- a/lib/player.js
+++ b/lib/player.js
@@ -1823,6 +1823,7 @@ shaka.Player = class extends shaka.util.FakeEventTarget {
 
     this.currentTextLanguage_ = this.config_.preferredTextLanguage;
     this.currentTextRole_ = this.config_.preferredTextRole;
+    this.currentTextForced_ = this.config_.preferForcedSubs;
 
     shaka.Player.applyPlayRange_(this.manifest_.presentationTimeline,
         this.config_.playRangeStart,