diff --git a/src/lib/viewers/media/MediaControls.js b/src/lib/viewers/media/MediaControls.js
index 72cda7dcf..1ac15006c 100644
--- a/src/lib/viewers/media/MediaControls.js
+++ b/src/lib/viewers/media/MediaControls.js
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@ class MediaControls extends EventEmitter {
      * @return {void}
      */
     filmstripHideHandler() {
-        if (!this.isScrubbing) {
+        if (!this.isScrubbing && this.filmstripEl) {
             this.filmstripContainerEl.style.display = 'none';
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/viewers/media/__tests__/MediaControls-test.js b/src/lib/viewers/media/__tests__/MediaControls-test.js
index 47ed034d7..95d3183e3 100644
--- a/src/lib/viewers/media/__tests__/MediaControls-test.js
+++ b/src/lib/viewers/media/__tests__/MediaControls-test.js
@@ -644,13 +644,21 @@ describe('lib/viewers/media/MediaControls', () => {
             expect(stubs.show).to.be.called;
         });
 
-        it('should remove the show controls class and hide the filmstrip if the wrapper element and parent exist', () => {
+        it('should remove the show controls class if the wrapper element and parent exist', () => {
             mediaControls.preventHiding = false;
             stubs.isSettingsVisible.returns(false);
 
             mediaControls.hide();
             expect(stubs.show).to.not.be.called;
             expect(mediaControls.wrapperEl.parentNode.classList.contains('bp-media-controls-is-visible')).to.be.false;
+        });
+
+        it('should hide the filmstrip', () => {
+            mediaControls.preventHiding = false;
+            stubs.isSettingsVisible.returns(false);
+            mediaControls.filmstripEl = document.createElement('div');
+
+            mediaControls.hide();
             expect(stubs.filmstripHideHandler).to.be.called;
         });
     });
@@ -995,6 +1003,14 @@ describe('lib/viewers/media/MediaControls', () => {
             mediaControls.filmstripHideHandler();
             expect(mediaControls.filmstripContainerEl.style.display).to.equal('');
         });
+
+        it('should do nothing if there is no filmstrip', () => {
+            mediaControls.isScrubbing = false;
+            mediaControls.filmstripEl = null;
+
+            mediaControls.filmstripHideHandler();
+            expect(mediaControls.filmstripContainerEl.style.display).to.equal('');
+        });
     });
 
     describe('initSubtitles()', () => {