diff --git a/ui/qt/rtp_audio_stream.cpp b/ui/qt/rtp_audio_stream.cpp
index 34ba58649d..cdd9177ac7 100644
--- a/ui/qt/rtp_audio_stream.cpp
+++ b/ui/qt/rtp_audio_stream.cpp
@@ -549,6 +549,11 @@ void RtpAudioStream::startPlaying()
 {
     if (audio_output_) return;
 
+    if (audio_out_rate_ == 0) {
+        emit playbackError(tr("RTP stream is empty or codec is unsupported."));
+        return;
+    }
+
     QAudioDeviceInfo cur_out_device = QAudioDeviceInfo::defaultOutputDevice();
     QString cur_out_name = parent()->property("currentOutputDeviceName").toString();
     foreach (QAudioDeviceInfo out_device, QAudioDeviceInfo::availableDevices(QAudio::AudioOutput)) {
diff --git a/ui/qt/rtp_player_dialog.h b/ui/qt/rtp_player_dialog.h
index a96fb5972a..44e2142e87 100644
--- a/ui/qt/rtp_player_dialog.h
+++ b/ui/qt/rtp_player_dialog.h
@@ -99,7 +99,10 @@ private slots:
     void resetXAxis();
 
     void setPlayPosition(double secs);
-    void setPlaybackError(const QString playback_error) { playback_error_ = playback_error; }
+    void setPlaybackError(const QString playback_error) {
+        playback_error_ = playback_error;
+        updateHintLabel();
+    }
     void on_playButton_clicked();
     void on_stopButton_clicked();
     void on_actionReset_triggered();