diff --git a/lib/media/media_source_engine.js b/lib/media/media_source_engine.js
index bab68e038e..5ed1e5eecf 100644
--- a/lib/media/media_source_engine.js
+++ b/lib/media/media_source_engine.js
@@ -391,7 +391,22 @@ shaka.media.MediaSourceEngine = class {
           }
         }
         const type = mimeType + this.config_.sourceBufferExtraFeatures;
-        const sourceBuffer = this.mediaSource_.addSourceBuffer(type);
+
+        this.destroyer_.ensureNotDestroyed();
+
+        let sourceBuffer;
+
+        try {
+          sourceBuffer = this.mediaSource_.addSourceBuffer(type);
+        } catch (exception) {
+          throw new shaka.util.Error(
+              shaka.util.Error.Severity.CRITICAL,
+              shaka.util.Error.Category.MEDIA,
+              shaka.util.Error.Code.MEDIA_SOURCE_OPERATION_THREW,
+              exception,
+              'The mediaSource_ status was' + this.mediaSource_.readyState +
+              'expected \'open\'');
+        }
 
         this.eventManager_.listen(
             sourceBuffer, 'error',