diff --git a/libraries/exoplayer/src/main/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/video/MediaCodecVideoRenderer.java b/libraries/exoplayer/src/main/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/video/MediaCodecVideoRenderer.java
index 5250e1107f..3b94f6ac39 100644
--- a/libraries/exoplayer/src/main/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/video/MediaCodecVideoRenderer.java
+++ b/libraries/exoplayer/src/main/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/video/MediaCodecVideoRenderer.java
@@ -1882,7 +1882,7 @@ public class MediaCodecVideoRenderer extends MediaCodecRenderer
     return Util.SDK_INT >= 35 && codecInfo.detachedSurfaceSupported;
   }
 
-  private boolean shouldUsePlaceholderSurface(MediaCodecInfo codecInfo) {
+  protected boolean shouldUsePlaceholderSurface(MediaCodecInfo codecInfo) {
     return Util.SDK_INT >= 23
         && !tunneling
         && !codecNeedsSetOutputSurfaceWorkaround(codecInfo.name)