diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/audio/AudioRecorder.java b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/audio/AudioRecorder.java
index 35cbf16b63..fd265337f9 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/audio/AudioRecorder.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/audio/AudioRecorder.java
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ public class AudioRecorder {
       Log.i(TAG, "Running startRecording() + " + Thread.currentThread().getId());
       try {
         if (audioCodec != null) {
-          throw new AssertionError("We can only record once at a time.");
+          Log.e(TAG, "Trying to start recording while another recording is in progress, exiting...");
+          return;
         }
 
         ParcelFileDescriptor fds[] = ParcelFileDescriptor.createPipe();