diff --git a/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m b/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m
index dcadee85..271433b3 100644
--- a/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m
+++ b/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ static int const RCTVideoUnset = -1;
   if (_playInBackground) {
     // Needed to play sound in background. See https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/qa/qa1668/_index.html
     [_playerLayer setPlayer:nil];
+    [_playerViewController setPlayer:nil];
   }
 }
 
@@ -231,6 +232,7 @@ static int const RCTVideoUnset = -1;
   [self applyModifiers];
   if (_playInBackground) {
     [_playerLayer setPlayer:_player];
+    [_playerViewController setPlayer:_player];
   }
 }