diff --git a/android/src/main/java/dev/zoriya/omni/OmniPlayer.kt b/android/src/main/java/dev/zoriya/omni/OmniPlayer.kt
index bc584ff..a83b1e0 100644
--- a/android/src/main/java/dev/zoriya/omni/OmniPlayer.kt
+++ b/android/src/main/java/dev/zoriya/omni/OmniPlayer.kt
@@ -106,21 +106,34 @@ class OmniPlayer(
 
     override var showNotification: Boolean? = false
         set(value) {
-            if (value == true) {
+            field = value
+            syncNotificationService()
+        }
+
+    private var serviceRunning = false
+
+    private fun syncNotificationService() {
+        val shouldShow = showNotification == true && source != null
+        when {
+            shouldShow && !serviceRunning -> {
                 val otherIsPlaying = notificationPlayer?.let { other ->
-                    runOnMainThreadSync { other.isPlaying }
+                    other !== localPlayer && runOnMainThreadSync { other.isPlaying }
                 } == true
                 if (otherIsPlaying) {
                     throw Error("Two players can't display notifications at the same time.")
                 }
                 notificationPlayer = localPlayer
                 ctx.startForegroundService(Intent(ctx, OmniPlayerService::class.java))
-            } else if (field == true && notificationPlayer == localPlayer) {
+                serviceRunning = true
+            }
+
+            !shouldShow && serviceRunning -> {
                 ctx.stopService(Intent(ctx, OmniPlayerService::class.java))
-                notificationPlayer = null
+                if (notificationPlayer == localPlayer) notificationPlayer = null
+                serviceRunning = false
             }
-            field = value
         }
+    }
 
     override val castStatus: CastStatus
         get() = runOnMainThreadSync { computeCastStatus() }
@@ -297,6 +310,7 @@ class OmniPlayer(
                 runOnMainThreadSync {
                     player.clearMediaItems()
                 }
+                syncNotificationService()
                 return
             }
             val handleAudioFocus =
@@ -329,6 +343,7 @@ class OmniPlayer(
                 player.setMediaItems(mediaItems, startIndex, startPositionMs.toLong())
                 player.prepare()
             }
+            syncNotificationService()
         }
 
     override fun play() {
@@ -504,7 +519,13 @@ class OmniPlayerService : MediaSessionService() {
 
     override fun onCreate() {
         super.onCreate()
-        player = OmniPlayer.notificationPlayer ?: throw Error("No player available")
+        val available = OmniPlayer.notificationPlayer
+        if (available == null) {
+            startForeground(1, createImmediateNotification())
+            stopSelf()
+            return
+        }
+        player = available
         val launchIntent = packageManager.getLaunchIntentForPackage(packageName)?.apply {
             addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_SINGLE_TOP)
         }
@@ -540,7 +561,8 @@ class OmniPlayerService : MediaSessionService() {
             player = current
             mediaSession.player = current
         }
-        return super.onStartCommand(intent, flags, startId)
+        super.onStartCommand(intent, flags, startId)
+        return START_NOT_STICKY
     }
 
     private fun createImmediateNotification(): Notification {
@@ -581,7 +603,7 @@ class OmniPlayerService : MediaSessionService() {
     }
 
     override fun onDestroy() {
-        mediaSession.release()
+        if (::mediaSession.isInitialized) mediaSession.release()
         super.onDestroy()
     }
 }
diff --git a/android/src/main/java/dev/zoriya/omni/VlcPlayer.kt b/android/src/main/java/dev/zoriya/omni/VlcPlayer.kt
index 0bc8fa9..339ed92 100644
--- a/android/src/main/java/dev/zoriya/omni/VlcPlayer.kt
+++ b/android/src/main/java/dev/zoriya/omni/VlcPlayer.kt
@@ -742,9 +742,9 @@ class VlcPlayer(ctx: Context) :
         }
     }
 
-    override fun getCurrentPeriodIndex() = currentMediaItemIndex
+    override fun getCurrentPeriodIndex() = currentMediaItemIndex.coerceAtLeast(0)
 
-    override fun getCurrentMediaItemIndex() = currentMediaItemIndex
+    override fun getCurrentMediaItemIndex() = currentMediaItemIndex.coerceAtLeast(0)
 
     override fun getDuration(): Long = player.length.takeIf { it > 0 } ?: TIME_UNSET
 
diff --git a/example/App.tsx b/example/App.tsx
index 2fd838c..d474b54 100644
--- a/example/App.tsx
+++ b/example/App.tsx
@@ -57,12 +57,16 @@ function PlayerExample({
 	trackLabel,
 	backend,
 	onSwitchBackend,
+	hasSource,
+	onLoad,
 }: {
 	onPrev: () => void;
 	onNext: () => void;
 	trackLabel: string;
 	backend: AndroidBackend;
 	onSwitchBackend: (backend: AndroidBackend) => void;
+	hasSource: boolean;
+	onLoad: () => void;
 }): React.JSX.Element {
 	const player = usePlayer();
 	const status = usePlayerState("status");
@@ -233,7 +237,20 @@ function PlayerExample({
 	return (
 		<ScrollView style={styles.container}>
 			<Text style={styles.heading}>react-native-omni</Text>
-			<Text style={styles.subheading}>{trackLabel}</Text>
+			<Text style={styles.subheading}>
+				{hasSource ? trackLabel : "No media loaded"}
+			</Text>
+
+			<View style={styles.row}>
+				<Pressable
+					style={[styles.button, hasSource && styles.selectedTrackButton]}
+					onPress={onLoad}
+				>
+					<Text style={styles.buttonText}>
+						{hasSource ? "Unload media" : "Load media"}
+					</Text>
+				</Pressable>
+			</View>
 
 			<View style={styles.row}>
 				<Pressable
@@ -497,6 +514,9 @@ function PlayerExample({
 
 function App(): React.JSX.Element {
 	const [currentIndex, setCurrentIndex] = useState(0);
+	// Start with no media loaded so we can verify the app boots (and the media
+	// notification stays hidden) before any source is set.
+	const [hasSource, setHasSource] = useState(false);
 	const [backend, setBackend] = useState<AndroidBackend>("vlc");
 	const [pendingBackend, setPendingBackend] = useState<AndroidBackend | null>(
 		null,
@@ -574,7 +594,7 @@ function App(): React.JSX.Element {
 	return (
 		<OmniProvider
 			key={backend}
-			source={source}
+			source={hasSource ? source : undefined}
 			backend={{ android: backend }}
 			cast={{receiverApplicationId: "D8FB0FC1"}}
 			showNotification
@@ -585,6 +605,8 @@ function App(): React.JSX.Element {
 				trackLabel={PLAYLIST[currentIndex].title}
 				backend={backend}
 				onSwitchBackend={handleSwitchBackend}
+				hasSource={hasSource}
+				onLoad={() => setHasSource((v) => !v)}
 			/>
 		</OmniProvider>
 	);