--- a/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/media/MediaControlService.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/media/MediaControlService.java
@@ -115,19 +115,19 @@ public class MediaControlService extends
         final Tab playingTab = mTabReference.get();
         switch (msg) {
             case MEDIA_PLAYING_CHANGE:
                 // The 'MEDIA_PLAYING_CHANGE' would only be received when the
                 // media starts or ends.
                 if (playingTab != tab && tab.isMediaPlaying()) {
                     mTabReference = new WeakReference<>(tab);
                     setState(State.PLAYING);
-                } else if (playingTab == tab && !tab.isMediaPlaying()) {
-                    mTabReference = new WeakReference<>(null);
-                    setState(State.STOPPED);
+                } else if (playingTab == tab) {
+                    mTabReference = new WeakReference<>(tab.isMediaPlaying() ? tab : null);
+                    setState(tab.isMediaPlaying() ? State.PLAYING : State.STOPPED);
                 }
                 break;
             case MEDIA_PLAYING_RESUME:
                 // user resume the paused-by-control media from page so that we
                 // should make the control interface consistent.
                 if (playingTab == tab && !isMediaPlaying()) {
                     setState(State.PLAYING);
                 }