diff --git a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/trackselection/DefaultTrackSelector.java b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/trackselection/DefaultTrackSelector.java
index 9db77fd7ad..941df66e4d 100644
--- a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/trackselection/DefaultTrackSelector.java
+++ b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/trackselection/DefaultTrackSelector.java
@@ -867,7 +867,8 @@ public class DefaultTrackSelector extends MappingTrackSelector {
   }
 
   protected static boolean formatHasLanguage(Format format, String language) {
-    return TextUtils.equals(language, Util.normalizeLanguageCode(format.language));
+    return language != null
+        && TextUtils.equals(language, Util.normalizeLanguageCode(format.language));
   }
 
   // Viewport size util methods.