diff --git a/RELEASENOTES.md b/RELEASENOTES.md
index e085209e2d..8cd1e5fdd1 100644
--- a/RELEASENOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASENOTES.md
@@ -70,6 +70,13 @@
         must be released without restoring them first.
     *   Ensure `DefaultDrmSession` instances keep working even after their
         `DefaultDrmSessionManager` instance is released.
+    *   Keep secure `MediaCodec` instances initialized when disabling (but not
+        resetting) `MediaCodecRenderer`. This helps re-use secure decoders in
+        more contexts, which avoids the 'black flash' caused by detaching a
+        `Surface` from a secure decoder on some devices
+        ([#8842](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/8842)). It will also
+        result in DRM license refresh network requests while the player is
+        stopped if `Player#setForegroundMode` is true.
 *   UI:
     *   Keep subtitle language features embedded (e.g. rubies & tate-chu-yoko)
         in `Cue.text` even when `SubtitleView#setApplyEmbeddedStyles()` is
diff --git a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/mediacodec/MediaCodecRenderer.java b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/mediacodec/MediaCodecRenderer.java
index 4eb750ecb6..bd9312798a 100644
--- a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/mediacodec/MediaCodecRenderer.java
+++ b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/mediacodec/MediaCodecRenderer.java
@@ -745,12 +745,7 @@ public abstract class MediaCodecRenderer extends BaseRenderer {
     outputStreamStartPositionUs = C.TIME_UNSET;
     outputStreamOffsetUs = C.TIME_UNSET;
     pendingOutputStreamOffsetCount = 0;
-    if (sourceDrmSession != null || codecDrmSession != null) {
-      // TODO: Do something better with this case.
-      onReset();
-    } else {
-      flushOrReleaseCodec();
-    }
+    flushOrReleaseCodec();
   }
 
   @Override