--- a/dom/media/MediaDecoderStateMachine.cpp
+++ b/dom/media/MediaDecoderStateMachine.cpp
@@ -1251,20 +1251,16 @@ void
 MediaDecoderStateMachine::SetDormant(bool aDormant)
 {
   MOZ_ASSERT(OnTaskQueue());
 
   if (IsShutdown()) {
     return;
   }
 
-  if (!mReader) {
-    return;
-  }
-
   if (mMetadataRequest.Exists()) {
     if (mPendingDormant && mPendingDormant.ref() != aDormant && !aDormant) {
       // We already have a dormant request pending; the new request would have
       // resumed from dormant, we can just cancel any pending dormant requests.
       mPendingDormant.reset();
     } else {
       mPendingDormant = Some(aDormant);
     }