diff --git a/media/libmedia/mediaplayer.cpp b/media/libmedia/mediaplayer.cpp
index 963b04f..056cc0a 100644
--- a/media/libmedia/mediaplayer.cpp
+++ b/media/libmedia/mediaplayer.cpp
@@ -811,6 +811,13 @@
     if (mPlayer == NULL) {
         return NO_INIT;
     }
+
+    if (next != NULL && !(next->mCurrentState &
+            (MEDIA_PLAYER_PREPARED | MEDIA_PLAYER_PAUSED | MEDIA_PLAYER_PLAYBACK_COMPLETE))) {
+        ALOGE("next player is not prepared");
+        return INVALID_OPERATION;
+    }
+
     return mPlayer->setNextPlayer(next == NULL ? NULL : next->mPlayer);
 }