diff --git a/android/src/main/java/com/brentvatne/react/ReactVideoView.java b/android/src/main/java/com/brentvatne/react/ReactVideoView.java
index 099bec33..4efe88fd 100644
--- a/android/src/main/java/com/brentvatne/react/ReactVideoView.java
+++ b/android/src/main/java/com/brentvatne/react/ReactVideoView.java
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ public class ReactVideoView extends ScalableVideoView implements MediaPlayer.OnP
     private float mVolume = 1.0f;
     private float mProgressUpdateInterval = 250.0f;
     private float mRate = 1.0f;
+    private float mActiveRate = 1.0f;
     private boolean mPlayInBackground = false;
     private boolean mActiveStatePauseStatus = false;
     private boolean mActiveStatePauseStatusInitialized = false;
@@ -344,6 +345,10 @@ public class ReactVideoView extends ScalableVideoView implements MediaPlayer.OnP
         } else {
             if (!mMediaPlayer.isPlaying()) {
                 start();
+                // Setting the rate unpauses, so we have to wait for an unpause
+                if (mRate != mActiveRate) { 
+                    setRateModifier(mRate);
+                }
 
                 // Also Start the Progress Update Handler
                 mProgressUpdateHandler.post(mProgressUpdateRunnable);
@@ -379,7 +384,10 @@ public class ReactVideoView extends ScalableVideoView implements MediaPlayer.OnP
 
         if (mMediaPlayerValid) {
             if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.M) {
-                mMediaPlayer.setPlaybackParams(mMediaPlayer.getPlaybackParams().setSpeed(rate));
+                if (!mPaused) { // Applying the rate while paused will cause the video to start
+                    mMediaPlayer.setPlaybackParams(mMediaPlayer.getPlaybackParams().setSpeed(rate));
+                    mActiveRate = rate;
+                }
             } else {
                 Log.e(ReactVideoViewManager.REACT_CLASS, "Setting playback rate is not yet supported on Android versions below 6.0");
             }