diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/resume.dom.test.ts b/frontend/src/lib/resume.dom.test.ts
index 29053ec7..aa071ace 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/resume.dom.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/resume.dom.test.ts
@@ -94,6 +94,18 @@ describe("useResume", () => {
     expect(save).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(42, 600, true);
   });
 
+  it("counts an element already playing when it subscribes as played", () => {
+    // A cached file started from 0 autoplays before the effect runs: its one `playing` is gone.
+    const m = fakeMedia();
+    m.metadata();
+    m.play();
+    const save = vi.fn();
+    renderHook(() => useResume(m.el, "7", 0, save));
+    m.at(42);
+    m.pause();
+    expect(save).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(42, 600, false);
+  });
+
   it("checkpoints while it plays, at most once per interval", () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers();
     const m = fakeMedia();
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/resume.ts b/frontend/src/lib/resume.ts
index 396d4d44..c0f49428 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/resume.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/resume.ts
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ export function useResume(
   const report = useEffectEvent(save);
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!media || itemKey == null) return;
-    let played = false;
+    // Already playing counts as played: a cached file that autoplays from the start can fire its
+    // one `playing` before this effect subscribes, and would then never report at all.
+    let played = !media.paused;
     let lastAt = 0;
     const duration = () => (Number.isFinite(media.duration) ? media.duration : 0);
     const put = (leaving: boolean) => {