diff --git a/lib/media/playhead.js b/lib/media/playhead.js
index 177b803997..55e863fe6c 100644
--- a/lib/media/playhead.js
+++ b/lib/media/playhead.js
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ shaka.media.SrcEqualsPlayhead = class {
     // We listen for the loaded-data-event so that we know when we can
     // interact with |currentTime|.
     const onLoaded = () => {
-      if (this.startTime_ == null) {
+      if (this.startTime_ == null || this.startTime_ == 0) {
         this.started_ = true;
       } else {
         // Startup is complete only when the video element acknowledges the