diff --git a/xmodule/js/src/video/02_html5_hls_video.js b/xmodule/js/src/video/02_html5_hls_video.js
index 673ea5f96381..cb6a1a2fda27 100644
--- a/xmodule/js/src/video/02_html5_hls_video.js
+++ b/xmodule/js/src/video/02_html5_hls_video.js
@@ -23,12 +23,6 @@
 
                     this.config = config;
 
-                    // set a default audio codec if not provided, this helps reduce issues
-                    // switching audio codecs during playback
-                    if (!this.config.defaultAudioCodec) {
-                        this.config.defaultAudioCodec = "mp4a.40.5";
-                    }
-
                     // do common initialization independent of player type
                     this.init(el, config);
 
diff --git a/xmodule/js/src/video/03_video_player.js b/xmodule/js/src/video/03_video_player.js
index a2464cf40b84..6215d54689ad 100644
--- a/xmodule/js/src/video/03_video_player.js
+++ b/xmodule/js/src/video/03_video_player.js
@@ -182,7 +182,10 @@
                                 onReadyHLS: function() { dfd.resolve(); },
                                 videoSources: state.HLSVideoSources,
                                 canPlayHLS: state.canPlayHLS,
-                                HLSOnlySources: state.HLSOnlySources
+                                HLSOnlySources: state.HLSOnlySources,
+                                // set a default audio codec if not provided, this helps reduce issues
+                                // switching audio codecs during playback
+                                defaultAudioCodec: "mp4a.40.5"
                             })
                         );
                         // `loadedmetadata` event triggered too early on Safari due