diff --git a/RELEASENOTES.md b/RELEASENOTES.md
index a8b263db4d..4fa71ec70f 100644
--- a/RELEASENOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASENOTES.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
   ([#3779](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/3779)).
 * Fix ANR issue on Redmi 4X and Redmi Note 4
   ([#4006](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/4006)).
+* Fix handling of zero padded strings when parsing Matroska streams
+  ([#4010](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/4010)).
 * MediaSession extension: Omit fast forward and rewind actions when media is not
   seekable ([#4001](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/4001)).
 
diff --git a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/extractor/mkv/DefaultEbmlReader.java b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/extractor/mkv/DefaultEbmlReader.java
index 91bc170205..2c6130677f 100644
--- a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/extractor/mkv/DefaultEbmlReader.java
+++ b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/extractor/mkv/DefaultEbmlReader.java
@@ -202,10 +202,11 @@ import java.util.Stack;
   }
 
   /**
-   * Reads and returns a string of length {@code byteLength} from the {@link ExtractorInput}.
+   * Reads a string of length {@code byteLength} from the {@link ExtractorInput}. Zero padding is
+   * removed, so the returned string may be shorter than {@code byteLength}.
    *
    * @param input The {@link ExtractorInput} from which to read.
-   * @param byteLength The length of the float being read.
+   * @param byteLength The length of the string being read, including zero padding.
    * @return The read string value.
    * @throws IOException If an error occurs reading from the input.
    * @throws InterruptedException If the thread is interrupted.
@@ -217,7 +218,12 @@ import java.util.Stack;
     }
     byte[] stringBytes = new byte[byteLength];
     input.readFully(stringBytes, 0, byteLength);
-    return new String(stringBytes);
+    // Remove zero padding.
+    int trimmedLength = byteLength;
+    while (trimmedLength > 0 && stringBytes[trimmedLength - 1] == 0) {
+      trimmedLength--;
+    }
+    return new String(stringBytes, 0, trimmedLength);
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/extractor/mkv/DefaultEbmlReaderTest.java b/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/extractor/mkv/DefaultEbmlReaderTest.java
index 2fec5c7cab..e44da0404b 100644
--- a/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/extractor/mkv/DefaultEbmlReaderTest.java
+++ b/library/core/src/test/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/extractor/mkv/DefaultEbmlReaderTest.java
@@ -89,6 +89,14 @@ public class DefaultEbmlReaderTest {
     assertEvents(input, expected.events);
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void testStringElementWithZeroPadding() throws IOException, InterruptedException {
+    ExtractorInput input = createTestInput(0x42, 0x82, 0x86, 0x41, 0x62, 0x63, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00);
+    TestOutput expected = new TestOutput();
+    expected.stringElement(TestOutput.ID_DOC_TYPE, "Abc");
+    assertEvents(input, expected.events);
+  }
+
   @Test
   public void testStringElementEmpty() throws IOException, InterruptedException {
     ExtractorInput input = createTestInput(0x42, 0x82, 0x80);