diff --git a/demos/main/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/demo/PlayerActivity.java b/demos/main/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/demo/PlayerActivity.java
index 87593a7db4..6814e296db 100644
--- a/demos/main/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/demo/PlayerActivity.java
+++ b/demos/main/src/main/java/com/google/android/exoplayer2/demo/PlayerActivity.java
@@ -432,6 +432,11 @@ public class PlayerActivity extends AppCompatActivity
       mediaSources[i] = createLeafMediaSource(samples[i]);
       Sample.SubtitleInfo subtitleInfo = samples[i].subtitleInfo;
       if (subtitleInfo != null) {
+        if (Util.maybeRequestReadExternalStoragePermission(
+            /* activity= */ this, subtitleInfo.uri)) {
+          // The player will be reinitialized if the permission is granted.
+          return Collections.emptyList();
+        }
         Format subtitleFormat =
             Format.createTextSampleFormat(
                 /* id= */ null,