diff --git a/webrtc/modules/audio_device/android/audio_track_jni.cc b/webrtc/modules/audio_device/android/audio_track_jni.cc
index 5bf3a5b8d7..67837f51fb 100644
--- a/webrtc/modules/audio_device/android/audio_track_jni.cc
+++ b/webrtc/modules/audio_device/android/audio_track_jni.cc
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ AudioTrackJni::JavaAudioTrack::JavaAudioTrack(
     NativeRegistration* native_reg,
     std::unique_ptr<GlobalRef> audio_track)
     : audio_track_(std::move(audio_track)),
-      init_playout_(native_reg->GetMethodId("initPlayout", "(II)V")),
+      init_playout_(native_reg->GetMethodId("initPlayout", "(II)Z")),
       start_playout_(native_reg->GetMethodId("startPlayout", "()Z")),
       stop_playout_(native_reg->GetMethodId("stopPlayout", "()Z")),
       set_stream_volume_(native_reg->GetMethodId("setStreamVolume", "(I)Z")),
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ AudioTrackJni::JavaAudioTrack::JavaAudioTrack(
 
 AudioTrackJni::JavaAudioTrack::~JavaAudioTrack() {}
 
-void AudioTrackJni::JavaAudioTrack::InitPlayout(int sample_rate, int channels) {
-  audio_track_->CallVoidMethod(init_playout_, sample_rate, channels);
+bool AudioTrackJni::JavaAudioTrack::InitPlayout(int sample_rate, int channels) {
+  return audio_track_->CallBooleanMethod(init_playout_, sample_rate, channels);
 }
 
 bool AudioTrackJni::JavaAudioTrack::StartPlayout() {
@@ -123,8 +123,11 @@ int32_t AudioTrackJni::InitPlayout() {
   RTC_DCHECK(thread_checker_.CalledOnValidThread());
   RTC_DCHECK(!initialized_);
   RTC_DCHECK(!playing_);
-  j_audio_track_->InitPlayout(
-      audio_parameters_.sample_rate(), audio_parameters_.channels());
+  if (!j_audio_track_->InitPlayout(
+      audio_parameters_.sample_rate(), audio_parameters_.channels())) {
+    ALOGE("InitPlayout failed!");
+    return -1;
+  }
   initialized_ = true;
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/webrtc/modules/audio_device/android/audio_track_jni.h b/webrtc/modules/audio_device/android/audio_track_jni.h
index 32b0b77033..82f2113f0a 100644
--- a/webrtc/modules/audio_device/android/audio_track_jni.h
+++ b/webrtc/modules/audio_device/android/audio_track_jni.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class AudioTrackJni {
                    std::unique_ptr<GlobalRef> audio_track);
     ~JavaAudioTrack();
 
-    void InitPlayout(int sample_rate, int channels);
+    bool InitPlayout(int sample_rate, int channels);
     bool StartPlayout();
     bool StopPlayout();
     bool SetStreamVolume(int volume);
diff --git a/webrtc/modules/audio_device/android/java/src/org/webrtc/voiceengine/WebRtcAudioTrack.java b/webrtc/modules/audio_device/android/java/src/org/webrtc/voiceengine/WebRtcAudioTrack.java
index 11eb51383d..593f998dd3 100644
--- a/webrtc/modules/audio_device/android/java/src/org/webrtc/voiceengine/WebRtcAudioTrack.java
+++ b/webrtc/modules/audio_device/android/java/src/org/webrtc/voiceengine/WebRtcAudioTrack.java
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ class WebRtcAudioTrack {
     }
   }
 
-  private void initPlayout(int sampleRate, int channels) {
+  private boolean initPlayout(int sampleRate, int channels) {
     Logging.d(TAG, "initPlayout(sampleRate=" + sampleRate + ", channels="
         + channels + ")");
     final int bytesPerFrame = channels * (BITS_PER_SAMPLE / 8);
@@ -191,17 +191,27 @@ class WebRtcAudioTrack {
                                   AudioTrack.MODE_STREAM);
     } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
       Logging.d(TAG, e.getMessage());
-      return;
+      return false;
     }
-    assertTrue(audioTrack.getState() == AudioTrack.STATE_INITIALIZED);
-    assertTrue(audioTrack.getPlayState() == AudioTrack.PLAYSTATE_STOPPED);
-    assertTrue(audioTrack.getStreamType() == AudioManager.STREAM_VOICE_CALL);
+
+    // It can happen that an AudioTrack is created but it was not successfully
+    // initialized upon creation. Seems to be the case e.g. when the maximum
+    // number of globally available audio tracks is exceeded.
+    if (audioTrack.getState() != AudioTrack.STATE_INITIALIZED) {
+      Logging.e(TAG, "Initialization of audio track failed.");
+      return false;
+    }
+    return true;
   }
 
   private boolean startPlayout() {
     Logging.d(TAG, "startPlayout");
     assertTrue(audioTrack != null);
     assertTrue(audioThread == null);
+    if (audioTrack.getState() != AudioTrack.STATE_INITIALIZED) {
+      Logging.e(TAG, "Audio track is not successfully initialized.");
+      return false;
+    }
     audioThread = new AudioTrackThread("AudioTrackJavaThread");
     audioThread.start();
     return true;