diff --git a/src/js/tracks/text-track.js b/src/js/tracks/text-track.js
index 7cb02c8995..36a9406453 100644
--- a/src/js/tracks/text-track.js
+++ b/src/js/tracks/text-track.js
@@ -184,13 +184,15 @@ class TextTrack extends Track {
     const activeCues = new TextTrackCueList(this.activeCues_);
     let changed = false;
 
-    this.timeupdateHandler = Fn.bind(this, function() {
+    this.timeupdateHandler = Fn.bind(this, function(event = {}) {
       if (this.tech_.isDisposed()) {
         return;
       }
 
       if (!this.tech_.isReady_) {
-        this.rvf_ = this.tech_.requestVideoFrameCallback(this.timeupdateHandler);
+        if (event.type !== 'timeupdate') {
+          this.rvf_ = this.tech_.requestVideoFrameCallback(this.timeupdateHandler);
+        }
 
         return;
       }
@@ -205,7 +207,9 @@ class TextTrack extends Track {
         changed = false;
       }
 
-      this.rvf_ = this.tech_.requestVideoFrameCallback(this.timeupdateHandler);
+      if (event.type !== 'timeupdate') {
+        this.rvf_ = this.tech_.requestVideoFrameCallback(this.timeupdateHandler);
+      }
 
     });
 
@@ -368,7 +372,10 @@ class TextTrack extends Track {
   }
 
   startTracking() {
+    // More precise cues based on requestVideoFrameCallback with a requestAnimationFram fallback
     this.rvf_ = this.tech_.requestVideoFrameCallback(this.timeupdateHandler);
+    // Also listen to timeupdate in case rVFC/rAF stops (window in background, audio in video el)
+    this.tech_.on('timeupdate', this.timeupdateHandler);
   }
 
   stopTracking() {
@@ -376,6 +383,7 @@ class TextTrack extends Track {
       this.tech_.cancelVideoFrameCallback(this.rvf_);
       this.rvf_ = undefined;
     }
+    this.tech_.off('timeupdate', this.timeupdateHandler);
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/test/unit/tracks/text-track.test.js b/test/unit/tracks/text-track.test.js
index 3b8ae94733..474793abbd 100644
--- a/test/unit/tracks/text-track.test.js
+++ b/test/unit/tracks/text-track.test.js
@@ -279,7 +279,9 @@ QUnit.test('does not fire cuechange before Tech is ready', function(assert) {
     return 0;
   };
 
+  // `playing` would trigger rvfc or raf, `timeupdate` for fallback
   player.tech_.trigger('playing');
+  player.tech_.trigger('timeupdate');
   assert.equal(changes, 0, 'a cuechange event is not triggered');
 
   player.tech_.on('ready', function() {
@@ -292,6 +294,11 @@ QUnit.test('does not fire cuechange before Tech is ready', function(assert) {
 
     assert.equal(changes, 2, 'a cuechange event trigger addEventListener and oncuechange');
 
+    player.tech_.trigger('timeupdate');
+    clock.tick(1);
+
+    assert.equal(changes, 2, 'a cuechange event trigger not duplicated by timeupdate');
+
     tt.off();
     player.dispose();
     clock.restore();
@@ -311,31 +318,45 @@ QUnit.test('fires cuechange when cues become active and inactive', function(asse
   const cuechangeHandler = function() {
     changes++;
   };
+  let fakeCurrentTime = 0;
+
+  player.tech_.currentTime = function() {
+    return fakeCurrentTime;
+  };
 
   tt.addCue({
     id: '1',
     startTime: 1,
     endTime: 5
   });
+  tt.addCue({
+    id: '2',
+    startTime: 11,
+    endTime: 14
+  });
 
   tt.oncuechange = cuechangeHandler;
   tt.addEventListener('cuechange', cuechangeHandler);
 
-  player.tech_.currentTime = function() {
-    return 2;
-  };
+  fakeCurrentTime = 2;
+  player.tech_.trigger('playing');
 
+  assert.equal(changes, 2, 'a cuechange event trigger addEventListener and oncuechange (rvfc/raf)');
+
+  fakeCurrentTime = 7;
   player.tech_.trigger('playing');
 
-  assert.equal(changes, 2, 'a cuechange event trigger addEventListener and oncuechange');
+  assert.equal(changes, 4, 'a cuechange event trigger addEventListener and oncuechange (rvfc/raf)');
 
-  player.tech_.currentTime = function() {
-    return 7;
-  };
+  fakeCurrentTime = 12;
+  player.tech_.trigger('timeupdate');
 
-  player.tech_.trigger('playing');
+  assert.equal(changes, 6, 'a cuechange event trigger addEventListener and oncuechange (timeupdate)');
+
+  fakeCurrentTime = 17;
+  player.tech_.trigger('timeupdate');
 
-  assert.equal(changes, 4, 'a cuechange event trigger addEventListener and oncuechange');
+  assert.equal(changes, 8, 'a cuechange event trigger addEventListener and oncuechange (timeupdate)');
 
   tt.off();
   player.dispose();
@@ -365,6 +386,7 @@ QUnit.test('enabled and disabled cuechange handler when changing mode to hidden'
     return 2;
   };
   player.tech_.trigger('playing');
+  player.tech_.trigger('timeupdate');
 
   assert.equal(changes, 1, 'a cuechange event trigger');
 
@@ -376,6 +398,7 @@ QUnit.test('enabled and disabled cuechange handler when changing mode to hidden'
     return 7;
   };
   player.tech_.trigger('playing');
+  player.tech_.trigger('timeupdate');
 
   assert.equal(changes, 0, 'NO cuechange event trigger');