diff --git a/library/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/metadata/MetadataRenderer.java b/library/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/metadata/MetadataRenderer.java
index 4869611aeb..550a13771f 100644
--- a/library/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/metadata/MetadataRenderer.java
+++ b/library/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/metadata/MetadataRenderer.java
@@ -113,6 +113,10 @@ public final class MetadataRenderer extends BaseRenderer implements Callback {
       if (result == C.RESULT_BUFFER_READ) {
         if (buffer.isEndOfStream()) {
           inputStreamEnded = true;
+        } else if (buffer.isDecodeOnly()) {
+          // Do nothing. Note this assumes that all metadata buffers can be decoded independently.
+          // If we ever need to support a metadata format where this is not the case, we'll need to
+          // pass the buffer to the decoder and discard the output.
         } else {
           pendingMetadataTimestamp = buffer.timeUs;
           buffer.subsampleOffsetUs = formatHolder.format.subsampleOffsetUs;