diff --git a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/video/DummySurface.java b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/video/DummySurface.java
index 4c7c212a79..c9dae2d280 100644
--- a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/video/DummySurface.java
+++ b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/video/DummySurface.java
@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@ public final class DummySurface extends Surface {
    *     {@link #isSecureSupported(Context)} returns {@code false}.
    */
   public static DummySurface newInstanceV17(Context context, boolean secure) {
-    assertApiLevel17OrHigher();
     Assertions.checkState(!secure || isSecureSupported(context));
     DummySurfaceThread thread = new DummySurfaceThread();
     return thread.init(secure ? secureMode : SECURE_MODE_NONE);
@@ -107,12 +106,6 @@ public final class DummySurface extends Surface {
     }
   }
 
-  private static void assertApiLevel17OrHigher() {
-    if (Util.SDK_INT < 17) {
-      throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Unsupported prior to API level 17");
-    }
-  }
-
   @SecureMode
   private static int getSecureMode(Context context) {
     if (GlUtil.isProtectedContentExtensionSupported(context)) {
diff --git a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/video/MediaCodecVideoRenderer.java b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/video/MediaCodecVideoRenderer.java
index cf1a995c33..8748fbc16b 100644
--- a/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/video/MediaCodecVideoRenderer.java
+++ b/library/core/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/video/MediaCodecVideoRenderer.java
@@ -641,7 +641,9 @@ public class MediaCodecVideoRenderer extends MediaCodecRenderer {
             deviceNeedsNoPostProcessWorkaround,
             tunnelingAudioSessionId);
     if (surface == null) {
-      Assertions.checkState(shouldUseDummySurface(codecInfo));
+      if (!shouldUseDummySurface(codecInfo)) {
+        throw new IllegalStateException();
+      }
       if (dummySurface == null) {
         dummySurface = DummySurface.newInstanceV17(context, codecInfo.secure);
       }