diff --git a/src/ios/CDVSound.m b/src/ios/CDVSound.m
index aef211e7..7c9c3121 100644
--- a/src/ios/CDVSound.m
+++ b/src/ios/CDVSound.m
@@ -378,7 +378,13 @@ - (void)startPlayingAudio:(CDVInvokedUrlCommand*)command
                 }
 
                 NSString* sessionCategory = bPlayAudioWhenScreenIsLocked ? AVAudioSessionCategoryPlayback : AVAudioSessionCategorySoloAmbient;
-                [self.avSession setCategory:sessionCategory error:&err];
+                UIApplicationState state = [UIApplication sharedApplication].applicationState;
+                if (state == UIApplicationStateBackground) {
+                    [self.avSession setCategory:AVAudioSessionCategoryPlayback withOptions:AVAudioSessionCategoryOptionMixWithOthers error:&err];
+                } else {
+                    [self.avSession setCategory:sessionCategory error:&err];
+                }
+
                 if (![self.avSession setActive:YES error:&err]) {
                     // other audio with higher priority that does not allow mixing could cause this to fail
                     NSLog(@"Unable to play audio: %@", [err localizedFailureReason]);