diff --git a/RELEASENOTES.md b/RELEASENOTES.md
index 4b754f3037..7980e4e0f1 100644
--- a/RELEASENOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASENOTES.md
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@
     *   Fix a bug where setting a negative time for a disabled `setWhen` timer
         of the notification caused a crash on some devices
         ([#903](https://github.com/androidx/media/issues/903)).
+    *   Fix `IllegalStateException` when the media notification controller
+        hasn't completed connecting when the first notification update is
+        requested ([#917](https://github.com/androidx/media/issues/917)).
 *   UI:
     *   Fix issue where forward and rewind buttons are not visible when used
         with Material Design in a BottomSheetDialogFragment
diff --git a/libraries/session/src/main/java/androidx/media3/session/MediaNotificationManager.java b/libraries/session/src/main/java/androidx/media3/session/MediaNotificationManager.java
index b8ad16d4de..98a5833776 100644
--- a/libraries/session/src/main/java/androidx/media3/session/MediaNotificationManager.java
+++ b/libraries/session/src/main/java/androidx/media3/session/MediaNotificationManager.java
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ import java.util.concurrent.TimeoutException;
   @Nullable
   private MediaController getConnectedControllerForSession(MediaSession session) {
     ListenableFuture<MediaController> controller = controllerMap.get(session);
-    if (controller == null) {
+    if (controller == null || !controller.isDone()) {
       return null;
     }
     try {