diff --git a/chromecast/media/cma/pipeline/media_pipeline_impl.cc b/chromecast/media/cma/pipeline/media_pipeline_impl.cc
index 39a48df96ebaf..2ee72c1704e78 100644
--- a/chromecast/media/cma/pipeline/media_pipeline_impl.cc
+++ b/chromecast/media/cma/pipeline/media_pipeline_impl.cc
@@ -270,11 +270,16 @@ void MediaPipelineImpl::StartPlayingFrom(base::TimeDelta time) {
 void MediaPipelineImpl::Flush(base::OnceClosure flush_cb) {
   LOG(INFO) << __FUNCTION__;
   DCHECK(thread_checker_.CalledOnValidThread());
-  DCHECK((backend_state_ == BACKEND_STATE_PLAYING) ||
-         (backend_state_ == BACKEND_STATE_PAUSED));
   DCHECK(audio_pipeline_ || video_pipeline_);
   DCHECK(!pending_flush_task_);
 
+  if (backend_state_ != BACKEND_STATE_PLAYING &&
+      backend_state_ != BACKEND_STATE_PAUSED) {
+    base::SingleThreadTaskRunner::GetCurrentDefault()->PostTask(
+        FROM_HERE, std::move(flush_cb));
+    return;
+  }
+
   media_time_interpolator_.StopInterpolating();
 
   if (buffering_controller_) {
diff --git a/chromecast/media/cma/pipeline/media_pipeline_impl_unittest.cc b/chromecast/media/cma/pipeline/media_pipeline_impl_unittest.cc
index 88acfe8692b81..c2ae97af84d04 100644
--- a/chromecast/media/cma/pipeline/media_pipeline_impl_unittest.cc
+++ b/chromecast/media/cma/pipeline/media_pipeline_impl_unittest.cc
@@ -60,6 +60,36 @@ TEST(MediaPipelineImplTest, DoesNotCrashOnFlushWhenBufferingIsDisabled) {
   media_pipeline.Flush(base::DoNothing());
 }
 
+TEST(MediaPipelineImplTest, FlushBeforeStartStillInitializesBackend) {
+  base::test::TaskEnvironment task_environment;
+
+  MediaPipelineImpl media_pipeline;
+  MockCmaBackend::VideoDecoder video_decoder;
+  auto backend = std::make_unique<MockCmaBackend>();
+  auto frame_provider = std::make_unique<MockFrameProvider>();
+
+  ON_CALL(video_decoder, SetConfig).WillByDefault(Return(true));
+  EXPECT_CALL(*backend, CreateVideoDecoder).WillOnce(Return(&video_decoder));
+  EXPECT_CALL(*backend, Stop).Times(0);
+  EXPECT_CALL(*backend, Initialize).WillOnce(Return(true));
+  EXPECT_CALL(*backend, Start).WillOnce(Return(true));
+
+  media_pipeline.Initialize(LoadType::kLoadTypeMediaStream, std::move(backend),
+                            /*is_buffering_enabled=*/false);
+  media_pipeline.InitializeVideo(
+      {::media::VideoDecoderConfig(
+          ::media::VideoCodec::kH264,
+          ::media::VideoCodecProfile::H264PROFILE_MAIN,
+          ::media::VideoDecoderConfig::AlphaMode::kIsOpaque,
+          ::media::VideoColorSpace(1, 1, 1, gfx::ColorSpace::RangeID::FULL),
+          ::media::VideoTransformation(), gfx::Size(1920, 1080),
+          gfx::Rect(0, 0, 1920, 1080), gfx::Size(1920, 1080), {},
+          ::media::EncryptionScheme::kUnencrypted)},
+      VideoPipelineClient(), std::move(frame_provider));
+  media_pipeline.Flush(base::DoNothing());
+  media_pipeline.StartPlayingFrom(base::Seconds(0));
+}
+
 }  // namespace
 }  // namespace media
 }  // namespace chromecast