diff --git a/ios/Video/RCTVideo.swift b/ios/Video/RCTVideo.swift
index 2b4a20de..d80e86c8 100644
--- a/ios/Video/RCTVideo.swift
+++ b/ios/Video/RCTVideo.swift
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ class RCTVideo: UIView, RCTVideoPlayerViewControllerDelegate, RCTPlayerObserverH
         
         if _controls {
             let viewController:UIViewController! = self.reactViewController()
-            viewController.addChild(_playerViewController)
+            viewController?.addChild(_playerViewController)
             self.addSubview(_playerViewController.view)
         }