diff --git a/library/common/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/util/Util.java b/library/common/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/util/Util.java
index 109768aafc..e222e83ffb 100644
--- a/library/common/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/util/Util.java
+++ b/library/common/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/util/Util.java
@@ -2116,7 +2116,9 @@ public final class Util {
     try (GZIPOutputStream os = new GZIPOutputStream(output)) {
       os.write(input);
     } catch (IOException e) {
-      throw new AssertionError(e);
+      // A ByteArrayOutputStream wrapped in a GZipOutputStream should never throw IOException since
+      // no I/O is happening.
+      throw new IllegalStateException(e);
     }
     return output.toByteArray();
   }