diff --git a/playback/service/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/playback/service/Media3PlaybackService.java b/playback/service/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/playback/service/Media3PlaybackService.java
index 8cbf5446c..62984fbb5 100644
--- a/playback/service/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/playback/service/Media3PlaybackService.java
+++ b/playback/service/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/playback/service/Media3PlaybackService.java
@@ -721,6 +721,9 @@ public class Media3PlaybackService extends MediaLibraryService {
         if (sleepTimer != null) {
             sleepTimer.stop();
             sleepTimer = null;
+        } else if (!BuildConfig.DEBUG) {
+            // Unblock user in case we somehow got into an inconsistent state
+            EventBus.getDefault().postSticky(SleepTimerUpdatedEvent.cancelled());
         }
         if (player != null) {
             applyVolumeAdaption(1.0f);