diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 14656a19..f976cb7e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ As of Chrome 66, [videos must be `muted` in order to play automatically](https:/
 Prop | Description | Default
 ---- | ----------- | -------
 `src` | The url of a video or song to play | `undefined`
-`playing` | Set to `true` or `false` to pause or play the media | `false`
+`playing` | Set to `true` or `false` to play or pause the media | `undefined`
 `preload` | Applies the `preload` attribute where supported | `undefined`
 `playsInline` | Applies the `playsInline` attribute where supported | `false`
 `crossOrigin` | Applies the `crossOrigin` attribute where supported | `undefined`
diff --git a/src/Player.tsx b/src/Player.tsx
index 0e98c955..39297fbf 100644
--- a/src/Player.tsx
+++ b/src/Player.tsx
@@ -19,10 +19,11 @@ const Player: Player = React.forwardRef((props, ref) => {
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!playerRef.current) return;
 
-    if (playerRef.current.paused && playing) {
+    // Use strict equality for `playing`, if it's nullish, don't do anything.
+    if (playerRef.current.paused && playing === true) {
       playerRef.current.play();
     }
-    if (!playerRef.current.paused && !playing) {
+    if (!playerRef.current.paused && playing === false) {
       playerRef.current.pause();
     }
 
diff --git a/src/props.ts b/src/props.ts
index fc77d47b..674a1e34 100644
--- a/src/props.ts
+++ b/src/props.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export const defaultProps: ReactPlayerProps = {
   playbackRate: 1,
 
   // custom props
-  // playing: false,
+  // playing: undefined,
   // pip: false,
   // light: false,
   // fallback: null,
diff --git a/test/Player.tsx b/test/Player.tsx
index 8393646d..48201759 100644
--- a/test/Player.tsx
+++ b/test/Player.tsx
@@ -20,13 +20,13 @@ test('video.load()', async (t) => {
 
 test('video.play()', async (t) => {
   const videoRef: React.Ref<HTMLVideoElement> = React.createRef();
-  const wrapper = render(<Player ref={videoRef} src="file.mp4" activePlayer={HtmlPlayer} />);
+  const wrapper = render(<Player ref={videoRef} src="file.mp4" playing={false} activePlayer={HtmlPlayer} />);
 
   const play = sinon.fake();
   videoRef.current?.addEventListener('play', play);
 
   act(() => {
-    wrapper.update(<Player ref={videoRef} src="file.mp4" playing activePlayer={HtmlPlayer} />);
+    wrapper.update(<Player ref={videoRef} src="file.mp4" playing={true} activePlayer={HtmlPlayer} />);
   });
   await Promise.resolve();
 
@@ -36,13 +36,13 @@ test('video.play()', async (t) => {
 
 test('video.pause()', async (t) => {
   const videoRef: React.Ref<HTMLVideoElement> = React.createRef();
-  const wrapper = render(<Player ref={videoRef} src="file.mp4" playing activePlayer={HtmlPlayer} />);
+  const wrapper = render(<Player ref={videoRef} src="file.mp4" playing={true} activePlayer={HtmlPlayer} />);
 
   const pause = sinon.fake();
   videoRef.current?.addEventListener('pause', pause);
 
   act(() => {
-    wrapper.update(<Player ref={videoRef} src="file.mp4" activePlayer={HtmlPlayer} />);
+    wrapper.update(<Player ref={videoRef} src="file.mp4" playing={false} activePlayer={HtmlPlayer} />);
   });
   await Promise.resolve();