diff --git a/lib/abr/simple_abr_manager.js b/lib/abr/simple_abr_manager.js
index 586b437cb..fa9ca845e 100644
--- a/lib/abr/simple_abr_manager.js
+++ b/lib/abr/simple_abr_manager.js
@@ -692,7 +692,9 @@ shaka.abr.SimpleAbrManager = class {
 
     // Skip ban logic when playback rate is greater than 1x
     // because frame drops are expected or when the total frames are 0.
-    if (this.mediaElement_.playbackRate > 1 || !currentTotal) {
+    const playbackRate =
+        !isNaN(this.playbackRate_) ? Math.abs(this.playbackRate_) : 1;
+    if (playbackRate > 1 || !currentTotal) {
       this.lastDroppedFrames_ = currentDropped;
       this.lastTotalFrames_ = currentTotal;
       return;
diff --git a/test/abr/simple_abr_manager_unit.js b/test/abr/simple_abr_manager_unit.js
index c34dce7bc..979dcf356 100644
--- a/test/abr/simple_abr_manager_unit.js
+++ b/test/abr/simple_abr_manager_unit.js
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ describe('SimpleAbrManager', () => {
       abrManager.checkDroppedFrames_();
 
       // High drop ratio at 2x speed — ban logic should be skipped.
-      mockVideo.playbackRate = 2;
+      abrManager.playbackRateChanged(2);
       mockVideo.getVideoPlaybackQuality = () => makeQuality(50, 200);
       abrManager.checkDroppedFrames_();
 
@@ -486,12 +486,12 @@ describe('SimpleAbrManager', () => {
       abrManager.checkDroppedFrames_();
 
       // 2x speed: counters are reset to current values (50, 200).
-      mockVideo.playbackRate = 2;
+      abrManager.playbackRateChanged(2);
       mockVideo.getVideoPlaybackQuality = () => makeQuality(50, 200);
       abrManager.checkDroppedFrames_();
 
       // Back to 1x: 5/100 new drops = 5% < 15% threshold.
-      mockVideo.playbackRate = 1;
+      abrManager.playbackRateChanged(1);
       mockVideo.getVideoPlaybackQuality = () => makeQuality(55, 300);
       abrManager.checkDroppedFrames_();