diff --git a/RCTVideo.m b/RCTVideo.m
index 28b25bb9..6664532b 100644
--- a/RCTVideo.m
+++ b/RCTVideo.m
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ static NSString *const playbackBufferEmptyKeyPath = @"playbackBufferEmpty";
   BOOL _paused;
   BOOL _repeat;
   BOOL _playInBackground;
+  BOOL _playWhenInactive;
   NSString * _resizeMode;
   BOOL _fullscreenPlayerPresented;
   UIViewController * _presentingViewController;
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ static NSString *const playbackBufferEmptyKeyPath = @"playbackBufferEmpty";
     _controls = NO;
     _playerBufferEmpty = YES;
 	_playInBackground = false;
+    _playWhenInactive = false;
 
     [[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self
                                              selector:@selector(applicationWillResignActive:)
@@ -124,10 +126,10 @@ static NSString *const playbackBufferEmptyKeyPath = @"playbackBufferEmpty";
 
 - (void)applicationWillResignActive:(NSNotification *)notification
 {
-  if (!_paused && !_playInBackground) {
-    [_player pause];
-    [_player setRate:0.0];
-  }
+  if (_playInBackground || _playWhenInactive || _paused) return;
+
+  [_player pause];
+  [_player setRate:0.0];
 }
 
 - (void)applicationDidEnterBackground:(NSNotification *)notification
@@ -371,6 +373,11 @@ static NSString *const playbackBufferEmptyKeyPath = @"playbackBufferEmpty";
     _playInBackground = playInBackground;
 }
 
+- (void)setPlayWhenInactive:(BOOL)playWhenInactive
+{
+    _playWhenInactive = playWhenInactive;
+}
+
 - (void)setPaused:(BOOL)paused
 {
   if (paused) {
diff --git a/Video.ios.js b/Video.ios.js
index d9f16633..f75fbc3d 100644
--- a/Video.ios.js
+++ b/Video.ios.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ var Video = React.createClass({
     volume: PropTypes.number,
     rate: PropTypes.number,
     playInBackground: PropTypes.bool,
+    playWhenInactive: PropTypes.bool,
     onLoadStart: PropTypes.func,
     onLoad: PropTypes.func,
     onError: PropTypes.func,
diff --git a/Video.js b/Video.js
index 466c3223..1447eee4 100644
--- a/Video.js
+++ b/Video.js
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ Video.propTypes = {
   volume: PropTypes.number,
   rate: PropTypes.number,
   playInBackground: PropTypes.bool,
+  playWhenInactive: PropTypes.bool,
   controls: PropTypes.bool,
   currentTime: PropTypes.number,
   onLoadStart: PropTypes.func,