diff --git a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/activity/MediaplayerActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/activity/MediaplayerActivity.java
index aaab579a2..86d4ec642 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/activity/MediaplayerActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/activity/MediaplayerActivity.java
@@ -278,9 +278,6 @@ public abstract class MediaplayerActivity extends CastEnabledActivity implements
     @Override
     protected void onStart() {
         super.onStart();
-        if (controller != null) {
-            controller.release();
-        }
         controller = newPlaybackController();
         controller.init();
         loadMediaInfo();
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/ExternalPlayerFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/ExternalPlayerFragment.java
index 2c35bdba4..508659f65 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/ExternalPlayerFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/ExternalPlayerFragment.java
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ public class ExternalPlayerFragment extends Fragment {
     @Override
     public void onStart() {
         super.onStart();
+        controller = setupPlaybackController();
         controller.init();
         EventBus.getDefault().register(this);
     }
@@ -152,6 +153,7 @@ public class ExternalPlayerFragment extends Fragment {
         super.onStop();
         if (controller != null) {
             controller.release();
+            controller = null;
         }
         EventBus.getDefault().unregister(this);
     }
@@ -233,7 +235,7 @@ public class ExternalPlayerFragment extends Fragment {
                     .into(imgvCover);
 
             fragmentLayout.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
-            if (controller.isPlayingVideoLocally()) {
+            if (controller != null && controller.isPlayingVideoLocally()) {
                 butPlay.setVisibility(View.GONE);
             } else {
                 butPlay.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/ItemDescriptionFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/ItemDescriptionFragment.java
index 27ffb0a70..9cee59531 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/ItemDescriptionFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/fragment/ItemDescriptionFragment.java
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ public class ItemDescriptionFragment extends Fragment {
         SharedPreferences prefs = getActivity().getSharedPreferences(PREF,
                 Activity.MODE_PRIVATE);
         SharedPreferences.Editor editor = prefs.edit();
-        if (controller.getMedia() != null && webvDescription != null) {
+        if (controller != null && controller.getMedia() != null && webvDescription != null) {
             Log.d(TAG, "Saving scroll position: " + webvDescription.getScrollY());
             editor.putInt(PREF_SCROLL_Y, webvDescription.getScrollY());
             editor.putString(PREF_PLAYABLE_ID, controller.getMedia().getIdentifier()
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ public class ItemDescriptionFragment extends Fragment {
                     PREF, Activity.MODE_PRIVATE);
             String id = prefs.getString(PREF_PLAYABLE_ID, "");
             int scrollY = prefs.getInt(PREF_SCROLL_Y, -1);
-            if (scrollY != -1 && controller.getMedia() != null
+            if (controller != null && scrollY != -1 && controller.getMedia() != null
                     && id.equals(controller.getMedia().getIdentifier().toString())
                     && webvDescription != null) {
                 Log.d(TAG, "Restored scroll Position: " + scrollY);