diff --git a/src/playbin.vala b/src/playbin.vala
index 21cca2c..4549202 100644
--- a/src/playbin.vala
+++ b/src/playbin.vala
@@ -220,8 +220,9 @@ public class Playbin : GLib.Object {
             requires (position < this.play_queue.get_n_items ())
     {
         assert (this.mpv.command ({"playlist-play-index", position.to_string ()}) >= 0);
-        this.state = PlaybinState.PLAYING;
         this.play_queue_position = position;
+        this.state = PlaybinState.PLAYING;
+        this.play (); // make sure mpv actually starts playing the track
     }
 
     public void pause () {