diff --git a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/ExoPlayerImplInternal.java b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/ExoPlayerImplInternal.java
index 77219c4397..a88335b0ff 100644
--- a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/ExoPlayerImplInternal.java
+++ b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/ExoPlayerImplInternal.java
@@ -1817,6 +1817,13 @@ import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
     }
     long bufferedDurationUs =
         getTotalBufferedDurationUs(queue.getLoadingPeriod().getNextLoadPositionUs());
+    if (bufferedDurationUs < 500_000) {
+      // Prevent loading from getting stuck even if LoadControl.shouldContinueLoading returns false
+      // when the buffer is empty or almost empty. We can't compare against 0 to account for small
+      // differences between the renderer position and buffered position in the media at the point
+      // where playback gets stuck.
+      return true;
+    }
     float playbackSpeed = mediaClock.getPlaybackParameters().speed;
     return loadControl.shouldContinueLoading(bufferedDurationUs, playbackSpeed);
   }
diff --git a/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/ExoPlayerTest.java b/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/ExoPlayerTest.java
index 8bd6b1ba09..f17cdae56b 100644
--- a/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/ExoPlayerTest.java
+++ b/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/ExoPlayerTest.java
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ import com.google.android.exoplayer2.testutil.ActionSchedule.PlayerTarget;
 import com.google.android.exoplayer2.testutil.AutoAdvancingFakeClock;
 import com.google.android.exoplayer2.testutil.ExoPlayerTestRunner;
 import com.google.android.exoplayer2.testutil.ExoPlayerTestRunner.Builder;
+import com.google.android.exoplayer2.testutil.FakeAdaptiveDataSet;
+import com.google.android.exoplayer2.testutil.FakeAdaptiveMediaSource;
+import com.google.android.exoplayer2.testutil.FakeChunkSource;
+import com.google.android.exoplayer2.testutil.FakeDataSource;
 import com.google.android.exoplayer2.testutil.FakeMediaClockRenderer;
 import com.google.android.exoplayer2.testutil.FakeMediaPeriod;
 import com.google.android.exoplayer2.testutil.FakeMediaSource;
@@ -3143,6 +3147,41 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     testRunner.blockUntilActionScheduleFinished(TIMEOUT_MS).blockUntilEnded(TIMEOUT_MS);
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void loadControlNeverWantsToLoadOrPlay_playbackDoesNotGetStuck() throws Exception {
+    LoadControl neverLoadingOrPlayingLoadControl =
+        new DefaultLoadControl() {
+          @Override
+          public boolean shouldContinueLoading(long bufferedDurationUs, float playbackSpeed) {
+            return false;
+          }
+
+          @Override
+          public boolean shouldStartPlayback(
+              long bufferedDurationUs, float playbackSpeed, boolean rebuffering) {
+            return false;
+          }
+        };
+
+    // Use chunked data to ensure the player actually needs to continue loading and playing.
+    FakeAdaptiveDataSet.Factory dataSetFactory =
+        new FakeAdaptiveDataSet.Factory(
+            /* chunkDurationUs= */ 500_000, /* bitratePercentStdDev= */ 10.0);
+    MediaSource chunkedMediaSource =
+        new FakeAdaptiveMediaSource(
+            new FakeTimeline(/* windowCount= */ 1),
+            new TrackGroupArray(new TrackGroup(Builder.VIDEO_FORMAT)),
+            new FakeChunkSource.Factory(dataSetFactory, new FakeDataSource.Factory()));
+
+    new ExoPlayerTestRunner.Builder()
+        .setLoadControl(neverLoadingOrPlayingLoadControl)
+        .setMediaSource(chunkedMediaSource)
+        .build(context)
+        .start()
+        // This throws if playback doesn't finish within timeout.
+        .blockUntilEnded(TIMEOUT_MS);
+  }
+
   // Internal methods.
 
   private static ActionSchedule.Builder addSurfaceSwitch(ActionSchedule.Builder builder) {
diff --git a/testutils/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/testutil/ExoPlayerTestRunner.java b/testutils/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/testutil/ExoPlayerTestRunner.java
index bf3cc90a78..8fe6d9b6c9 100644
--- a/testutils/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/testutil/ExoPlayerTestRunner.java
+++ b/testutils/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/testutil/ExoPlayerTestRunner.java
@@ -56,18 +56,34 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTestRunner implements Player.EventListener, ActionSc
    */
   public static final class Builder {
 
-    /**
-     * A generic video {@link Format} which can be used to set up media sources and renderers.
-     */
-    public static final Format VIDEO_FORMAT = Format.createVideoSampleFormat(null,
-        MimeTypes.VIDEO_H264, null, Format.NO_VALUE, Format.NO_VALUE, 1280, 720, Format.NO_VALUE,
-        null, null);
+    /** A generic video {@link Format} which can be used to set up media sources and renderers. */
+    public static final Format VIDEO_FORMAT =
+        Format.createVideoSampleFormat(
+            /* id= */ null,
+            /* sampleMimeType= */ MimeTypes.VIDEO_H264,
+            /* codecs= */ null,
+            /* bitrate= */ 800_000,
+            /* maxInputSize= */ Format.NO_VALUE,
+            /* width= */ 1280,
+            /* height= */ 720,
+            /* frameRate= */ Format.NO_VALUE,
+            /* initializationData= */ null,
+            /* drmInitData= */ null);
 
-    /**
-     * A generic audio {@link Format} which can be used to set up media sources and renderers.
-     */
-    public static final Format AUDIO_FORMAT = Format.createAudioSampleFormat(null,
-        MimeTypes.AUDIO_AAC, null, Format.NO_VALUE, Format.NO_VALUE, 2, 44100, null, null, 0, null);
+    /** A generic audio {@link Format} which can be used to set up media sources and renderers. */
+    public static final Format AUDIO_FORMAT =
+        Format.createAudioSampleFormat(
+            /* id= */ null,
+            /* sampleMimeType= */ MimeTypes.AUDIO_AAC,
+            /* codecs= */ null,
+            /* bitrate= */ 100_000,
+            /* maxInputSize= */ Format.NO_VALUE,
+            /* channelCount= */ 2,
+            /* sampleRate= */ 44100,
+            /* initializationData=*/ null,
+            /* drmInitData= */ null,
+            /* selectionFlags= */ 0,
+            /* language= */ null);
 
     private Clock clock;
     private Timeline timeline;