diff --git a/RELEASENOTES.md b/RELEASENOTES.md
index e816ccf51e..a00c337946 100644
--- a/RELEASENOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASENOTES.md
@@ -90,6 +90,9 @@
         ([#710](https://github.com/androidx/media/pull/710)).
 *   Leanback extension:
 *   Cast Extension:
+    *   Sanitize creation of a `Timeline` to not crash the app when loading
+        media fails on the cast device
+        ([#708](https://github.com/androidx/media/issues/708)).
 *   Test Utilities:
 *   Remove deprecated symbols:
 *   Demo app:
diff --git a/libraries/cast/src/main/java/androidx/media3/cast/CastTimelineTracker.java b/libraries/cast/src/main/java/androidx/media3/cast/CastTimelineTracker.java
index c955387ff4..a052eb595d 100644
--- a/libraries/cast/src/main/java/androidx/media3/cast/CastTimelineTracker.java
+++ b/libraries/cast/src/main/java/androidx/media3/cast/CastTimelineTracker.java
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ package androidx.media3.cast;
 
 import static androidx.media3.cast.CastTimeline.ItemData.UNKNOWN_CONTENT_ID;
 import static androidx.media3.common.util.Assertions.checkNotNull;
-import static androidx.media3.common.util.Assertions.checkStateNotNull;
 
 import android.util.SparseArray;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
@@ -105,12 +104,12 @@ import java.util.List;
 
     // TODO: Reset state when the app instance changes [Internal ref: b/129672468].
     MediaStatus mediaStatus = remoteMediaClient.getMediaStatus();
-    if (mediaStatus == null) {
+    if (mediaStatus == null || mediaStatus.getMediaInfo() == null) {
       return CastTimeline.EMPTY_CAST_TIMELINE;
     }
 
     int currentItemId = mediaStatus.getCurrentItemId();
-    String currentContentId = checkStateNotNull(mediaStatus.getMediaInfo()).getContentId();
+    String currentContentId = checkNotNull(mediaStatus.getMediaInfo()).getContentId();
     MediaItem mediaItem = mediaItemsByContentId.get(currentContentId);
     updateItemData(
         currentItemId,
diff --git a/libraries/cast/src/test/java/androidx/media3/cast/CastTimelineTrackerTest.java b/libraries/cast/src/test/java/androidx/media3/cast/CastTimelineTrackerTest.java
index a8a1930056..8cd775b425 100644
--- a/libraries/cast/src/test/java/androidx/media3/cast/CastTimelineTrackerTest.java
+++ b/libraries/cast/src/test/java/androidx/media3/cast/CastTimelineTrackerTest.java
@@ -277,6 +277,30 @@ public class CastTimelineTrackerTest {
     assertThat(castTimelineTracker.mediaItemsByContentId).hasSize(1);
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void getCastTimeline_mediaStatusIsNull_returnsEmptyTimeline() {
+    RemoteMediaClient mockRemoteMediaClient = mock(RemoteMediaClient.class);
+    MediaQueue mediaQueue = mock(MediaQueue.class);
+    when(mockRemoteMediaClient.getMediaQueue()).thenReturn(mediaQueue);
+    when(mediaQueue.getItemIds()).thenReturn(new int[0]);
+    when(mockRemoteMediaClient.getMediaStatus()).thenReturn(null);
+
+    assertThat(castTimelineTracker.getCastTimeline(mockRemoteMediaClient).isEmpty()).isTrue();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void getCastTimeline_mediaInfoIsNull_returnsEmptyTimeline() {
+    RemoteMediaClient mockRemoteMediaClient = mock(RemoteMediaClient.class);
+    MediaQueue mediaQueue = mock(MediaQueue.class);
+    when(mockRemoteMediaClient.getMediaQueue()).thenReturn(mediaQueue);
+    when(mediaQueue.getItemIds()).thenReturn(new int[0]);
+    MediaStatus mediaStatus = mock(MediaStatus.class);
+    when(mockRemoteMediaClient.getMediaStatus()).thenReturn(mediaStatus);
+    when(mediaStatus.getMediaInfo()).thenReturn(null);
+
+    assertThat(castTimelineTracker.getCastTimeline(mockRemoteMediaClient).isEmpty()).isTrue();
+  }
+
   private MediaItem createMediaItem(int uid) {
     return new MediaItem.Builder()
         .setUri("http://www.google.com/" + uid)