diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/mediasession/MediaSessionPlayerUi.java b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/mediasession/MediaSessionPlayerUi.java
index e9541ab06..6f76a91d1 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/mediasession/MediaSessionPlayerUi.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/schabi/newpipe/player/mediasession/MediaSessionPlayerUi.java
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package org.schabi.newpipe.player.mediasession;
 import static org.schabi.newpipe.MainActivity.DEBUG;
 
 import android.content.Intent;
+import android.content.SharedPreferences;
 import android.graphics.Bitmap;
 import android.support.v4.media.MediaMetadataCompat;
 import android.support.v4.media.session.MediaSessionCompat;
@@ -23,14 +24,20 @@ import org.schabi.newpipe.util.StreamTypeUtil;
 
 import java.util.Optional;
 
-public class MediaSessionPlayerUi extends PlayerUi {
+public class MediaSessionPlayerUi extends PlayerUi
+        implements SharedPreferences.OnSharedPreferenceChangeListener {
     private static final String TAG = "MediaSessUi";
 
     private MediaSessionCompat mediaSession;
     private MediaSessionConnector sessionConnector;
 
+    private final String ignoreHardwareMediaButtonsKey;
+    private boolean shouldIgnoreHardwareMediaButtons = false;
+
     public MediaSessionPlayerUi(@NonNull final Player player) {
         super(player);
+        ignoreHardwareMediaButtonsKey =
+                context.getString(R.string.ignore_hardware_media_buttons_key);
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -45,6 +52,15 @@ public class MediaSessionPlayerUi extends PlayerUi {
         sessionConnector.setQueueNavigator(new PlayQueueNavigator(mediaSession, player));
         sessionConnector.setPlayer(getForwardingPlayer());
 
+        // It seems like events from the Media Control UI in the notification area don't go through
+        // this function, so it's safe to just ignore all events in case we want to ignore the
+        // hardware media buttons. Returning true stops all further event processing of the system.
+        sessionConnector.setMediaButtonEventHandler((p, i) -> shouldIgnoreHardwareMediaButtons);
+
+        // listen to changes to ignore_hardware_media_buttons_key
+        updateShouldIgnoreHardwareMediaButtons(player.getPrefs());
+        player.getPrefs().registerOnSharedPreferenceChangeListener(this);
+
         sessionConnector.setMetadataDeduplicationEnabled(true);
         sessionConnector.setMediaMetadataProvider(exoPlayer -> buildMediaMetadata());
     }
@@ -52,7 +68,9 @@ public class MediaSessionPlayerUi extends PlayerUi {
     @Override
     public void destroyPlayer() {
         super.destroyPlayer();
+        player.getPrefs().unregisterOnSharedPreferenceChangeListener(this);
         if (sessionConnector != null) {
+            sessionConnector.setMediaButtonEventHandler(null);
             sessionConnector.setPlayer(null);
             sessionConnector.setQueueNavigator(null);
             sessionConnector = null;
@@ -74,6 +92,20 @@ public class MediaSessionPlayerUi extends PlayerUi {
     }
 
 
+    @Override
+    public void onSharedPreferenceChanged(final SharedPreferences sharedPreferences,
+                                          final String key) {
+        if (key == null || key.equals(ignoreHardwareMediaButtonsKey)) {
+            updateShouldIgnoreHardwareMediaButtons(sharedPreferences);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void updateShouldIgnoreHardwareMediaButtons(final SharedPreferences sharedPreferences) {
+        shouldIgnoreHardwareMediaButtons =
+                sharedPreferences.getBoolean(ignoreHardwareMediaButtonsKey, false);
+    }
+
+
     public void handleMediaButtonIntent(final Intent intent) {
         MediaButtonReceiver.handleIntent(mediaSession, intent);
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/settings_keys.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/settings_keys.xml
index 126818969..0b2e58d04 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/settings_keys.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/settings_keys.xml
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
     <string name="screen_brightness_key">screen_brightness_key</string>
     <string name="screen_brightness_timestamp_key">screen_brightness_timestamp_key</string>
     <string name="clear_queue_confirmation_key">clear_queue_confirmation_key</string>
+    <string name="ignore_hardware_media_buttons_key">ignore_hardware_media_buttons_key</string>
 
     <string name="popup_saved_width_key">popup_saved_width</string>
     <string name="popup_saved_x_key">popup_saved_x</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index a8d527ffb..06f8cf4f1 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@
     <string name="clear_queue_confirmation_title">Ask for confirmation before clearing a queue</string>
     <string name="clear_queue_confirmation_summary">Switching from one player to another may replace your queue</string>
     <string name="clear_queue_confirmation_description">The active player queue will be replaced</string>
+    <string name="ignore_hardware_media_buttons_title">Ignore hardware media button events</string>
+    <string name="ignore_hardware_media_buttons_summary">Useful, for instance, if you are using a headset with broken physical buttons</string>
     <string name="download_thumbnail_title">Load thumbnails</string>
     <string name="download_thumbnail_summary">Turn off to prevent loading thumbnails, saving data and memory usage. Changes clear both in-memory and on-disk image cache</string>
     <string name="show_comments_title">Show comments</string>
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/xml/video_audio_settings.xml b/app/src/main/res/xml/video_audio_settings.xml
index 8ff91548d..117ee8703 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/xml/video_audio_settings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/xml/video_audio_settings.xml
@@ -224,5 +224,12 @@
             app:singleLineTitle="false"
             app:iconSpaceReserved="false" />
 
+        <SwitchPreferenceCompat
+            android:defaultValue="false"
+            android:key="@string/ignore_hardware_media_buttons_key"
+            android:summary="@string/ignore_hardware_media_buttons_summary"
+            android:title="@string/ignore_hardware_media_buttons_title"
+            app:singleLineTitle="false"
+            app:iconSpaceReserved="false" />
     </PreferenceCategory>
 </PreferenceScreen>