diff --git a/media/java/android/media/session/MediaController.java b/media/java/android/media/session/MediaController.java
index be867414bd76c..cfbf3af0a9b12 100644
--- a/media/java/android/media/session/MediaController.java
+++ b/media/java/android/media/session/MediaController.java
@@ -434,6 +434,14 @@ public final class MediaController {
         return mSessionBinder;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @hide
+     */
+    public boolean controlsSameSession(MediaController other) {
+        if (other == null) return false;
+        return mSessionBinder.asBinder() == other.getSessionBinder().asBinder();
+    }
+
     private void addCallbackLocked(Callback cb, Handler handler) {
         if (getHandlerForCallbackLocked(cb) != null) {
             Log.w(TAG, "Callback is already added, ignoring");
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/PhoneStatusBar.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/PhoneStatusBar.java
index 90f9cdd772bc6..dd947f03678e1 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/PhoneStatusBar.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/PhoneStatusBar.java
@@ -1758,7 +1758,7 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar implements DemoMode,
                 }
             }
 
-            if (controller != mMediaController) {
+            if (!sameSessions(mMediaController, controller)) {
                 // We have a new media session
 
                 if (mMediaController != null) {
@@ -1807,6 +1807,12 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends BaseStatusBar implements DemoMode,
         updateMediaMetaData(metaDataChanged);
     }
 
+    private boolean sameSessions(MediaController a, MediaController b) {
+        if (a == b) return true;
+        if (a == null) return false;
+        return a.controlsSameSession(b);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Hide the album artwork that is fading out and release its bitmap.
      */