diff --git a/video/video_receive_stream.cc b/video/video_receive_stream.cc
index a632167203..bf4038eb98 100644
--- a/video/video_receive_stream.cc
+++ b/video/video_receive_stream.cc
@@ -180,7 +180,6 @@ void VideoReceiveStream::Start() {
                           rtp_video_stream_receiver_.IsUlpfecEnabled();
 
   frame_buffer_->Start();
-  call_stats_->RegisterStatsObserver(this);
 
   if (rtp_video_stream_receiver_.IsRetransmissionsEnabled() &&
       protected_by_fec) {
@@ -216,6 +215,10 @@ void VideoReceiveStream::Start() {
       rtp_video_stream_receiver_.IsRetransmissionsEnabled(), protected_by_fec,
       &stats_proxy_, renderer));
 
+  // Make sure we register as a stats observer *after* we've prepared the
+  // |video_stream_decoder_|.
+  call_stats_->RegisterStatsObserver(this);
+
   process_thread_->RegisterModule(&video_receiver_, RTC_FROM_HERE);
 
   // Start the decode thread