diff --git a/platform/api16/com/miniabs/ExoEngine.java b/platform/api16/com/miniabs/ExoEngine.java
index c09cde4..21b5045 100644
--- a/platform/api16/com/miniabs/ExoEngine.java
+++ b/platform/api16/com/miniabs/ExoEngine.java
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ final class ExoEngine implements Engine {
 
     public void setVolume(float v) { player.setVolume(v); }
 
+    /** Before prepare for skipping silences to work: ExoPlayer 2.18 switches it on only when it sets up the audio. */
     public void setSpeed(float speed, boolean skipSilence) {
         player.setPlaybackParameters(new PlaybackParameters(speed));
         player.setSkipSilenceEnabled(skipSilence);
diff --git a/src/com/miniabs/PlayerService.java b/src/com/miniabs/PlayerService.java
index ca26e54..c6b1f1f 100644
--- a/src/com/miniabs/PlayerService.java
+++ b/src/com/miniabs/PlayerService.java
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ public class PlayerService extends Service implements Engine.Listener, AudioMana
     private boolean prepared;
     private String sourceUrl;      // what the engine was opened with, to reopen it in the other engine
     private boolean fallback;      // this episode didn't decode in ExoPlayer: Android's MediaPlayer
+    private boolean engineSkip;    // whether the engine was opened skipping silences
     private String coverFor;       // the notification and lock screen's cover
     private Bitmap cover;
     private Episode ep;
@@ -456,6 +457,10 @@ public class PlayerService extends Service implements Engine.Listener, AudioMana
         sourceUrl = url;
         mp = Platform.newEngine(getApplicationContext(), fallback);
         mp.setListener(this);
+        // before the audio is opened: ExoPlayer sets up skipping silences only then
+        Prefs prefs = Prefs.get(this);
+        engineSkip = prefs.skipSilence();
+        mp.setSpeed(prefs.speed(), engineSkip);
         try {
             if (local) {
                 mp.setSource(new File(url), null);
@@ -491,10 +496,20 @@ public class PlayerService extends Service implements Engine.Listener, AudioMana
         }
     }
 
-    /** Speed or skipping silences changed in the player screen or Settings. */
+    /** Speed or skipping silences changed in the player screen or Settings. Speed changes as it plays; skipping
+     *  silences only takes effect when the audio is opened, so the episode is reopened here at the same spot. */
     void applySpeed() {
         Prefs p = Prefs.get(this);
-        if (mp != null) mp.setSpeed(p.speed(), p.skipSilence());
+        if (mp == null) return;
+        if (Platform.SPEED && prepared && sourceUrl != null && p.skipSilence() != engineSkip) {
+            boolean wasPlaying = state == PLAYING;
+            resumeMs = positionMs();
+            lastPosMs = resumeMs;
+            playOnPrepared = wasPlaying;
+            prepare(sourceUrl, null);
+            return;
+        }
+        mp.setSpeed(p.speed(), engineSkip);
     }
 
     private void start() {