diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/playbackControls.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/playbackControls.js
index 1c61bf824..d6272faab 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/playbackControls.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/playbackControls.js
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
                 }
 
               logger.debug("updating is playing: " + isPlaying)
-                playbackPlaying = isPlaying;
+              playbackPlaying = isPlaying;
             }
         }
 
@@ -388,10 +388,13 @@
         }
 
         function onPlayStartEvent() {
-          playbackPlaying = true;
+          updateIsPlaying(true);
+          playbackPlaying = false;
+          seenActivity = false;
         }
 
         function onPlayStopEvent() {
+          updateIsPlaying(false);
           playbackPlaying = false;
         }