diff --git a/libraries/exoplayer/src/main/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/mediacodec/MediaCodecRenderer.java b/libraries/exoplayer/src/main/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/mediacodec/MediaCodecRenderer.java
index b1cb3daac6..ef093a2815 100644
--- a/libraries/exoplayer/src/main/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/mediacodec/MediaCodecRenderer.java
+++ b/libraries/exoplayer/src/main/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/mediacodec/MediaCodecRenderer.java
@@ -978,13 +978,27 @@ public abstract class MediaCodecRenderer extends BaseRenderer {
           DecoderInitializationException.NO_SUITABLE_DECODER_ERROR);
     }
 
+    MediaCodecInfo preferredCodecInfo = availableCodecInfos.peekFirst();
     while (codec == null) {
       MediaCodecInfo codecInfo = availableCodecInfos.peekFirst();
       if (!shouldInitCodec(codecInfo)) {
         return;
       }
       try {
-        initCodec(codecInfo, crypto);
+        try {
+          initCodec(codecInfo, crypto);
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+          if (codecInfo == preferredCodecInfo) {
+            // If creating the preferred decoder failed then sleep briefly before retrying.
+            // Workaround for [internal b/191966399].
+            // See also https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/issues/8696.
+            Log.w(TAG, "Preferred decoder instantiation failed. Sleeping for 50ms then retrying.");
+            Thread.sleep(/* millis= */ 50);
+            initCodec(codecInfo, crypto);
+          } else {
+            throw e;
+          }
+        }
       } catch (Exception e) {
         Log.w(TAG, "Failed to initialize decoder: " + codecInfo, e);
         // This codec failed to initialize, so fall back to the next codec in the list (if any). We
@@ -1062,13 +1076,17 @@ public abstract class MediaCodecRenderer extends BaseRenderer {
       codecOperatingRate = CODEC_OPERATING_RATE_UNSET;
     }
     codecInitializingTimestamp = SystemClock.elapsedRealtime();
-    TraceUtil.beginSection("createCodec:" + codecName);
     MediaCodecAdapter.Configuration configuration =
         getMediaCodecConfiguration(codecInfo, inputFormat, crypto, codecOperatingRate);
     if (Util.SDK_INT >= 31) {
       Api31.setLogSessionIdToMediaCodecFormat(configuration, getPlayerId());
     }
-    codec = codecAdapterFactory.createAdapter(configuration);
+    try {
+      TraceUtil.beginSection("createCodec:" + codecName);
+      codec = codecAdapterFactory.createAdapter(configuration);
+    } finally {
+      TraceUtil.endSection();
+    }
     codecInitializedTimestamp = SystemClock.elapsedRealtime();
 
     this.codecInfo = codecInfo;