diff --git a/lib/media/drm_engine.js b/lib/media/drm_engine.js
index 0b351b7a15..e2cc2f32a2 100644
--- a/lib/media/drm_engine.js
+++ b/lib/media/drm_engine.js
@@ -907,7 +907,7 @@ shaka.media.DrmEngine = class {
           'We should get at least one supported MIME type');
 
       if (useMediaCapabilities) {
-        this.currentDrmInfo_ = shaka.media.DrmEngine.createDrmInfoByInfos_(
+        this.currentDrmInfo_ = this.createDrmInfoByInfos_(
             mediaKeySystemAccess.keySystem,
             drmInfosByKeySystem.get(mediaKeySystemAccess.keySystem));
       } else {
@@ -1993,7 +1993,7 @@ shaka.media.DrmEngine = class {
    *
    * @private
    */
-  static createDrmInfoByInfos_(keySystem, drmInfos) {
+  createDrmInfoByInfos_(keySystem, drmInfos) {
     /** @type {!Array.<string>} */
     const licenseServers = [];
 
@@ -2019,13 +2019,16 @@ shaka.media.DrmEngine = class {
                         'Only the first will be used.');
     }
 
+    const defaultSessionType =
+        this.usePersistentLicenses_ ? 'persistent-license' : 'temporary';
+
     /** @type {shaka.extern.DrmInfo} */
     const res = {
       keySystem,
       licenseServerUri: licenseServers[0],
       distinctiveIdentifierRequired: drmInfos[0].distinctiveIdentifierRequired,
       persistentStateRequired: drmInfos[0].persistentStateRequired,
-      sessionType: drmInfos[0].sessionType || 'temporary',
+      sessionType: drmInfos[0].sessionType || defaultSessionType,
       audioRobustness: drmInfos[0].audioRobustness || '',
       videoRobustness: drmInfos[0].videoRobustness || '',
       serverCertificate: serverCerts[0],