diff --git a/dom/media/ipc/RemoteDecoderModule.cpp b/dom/media/ipc/RemoteDecoderModule.cpp
index edadaf4cfc77..cdc35c3f700a 100644
--- a/dom/media/ipc/RemoteDecoderModule.cpp
+++ b/dom/media/ipc/RemoteDecoderModule.cpp
@@ -94,9 +94,21 @@ already_AddRefed<MediaDataDecoder> RemoteDecoderModule::CreateAudioDecoder(
 
   RefPtr<RemoteAudioDecoderChild> child = new RemoteAudioDecoderChild();
   MediaResult result(NS_OK);
-  RefPtr<Runnable> task = NS_NewRunnableFunction(
-      "RemoteDecoderModule::CreateAudioDecoder", [&, child]() {
+  // We can use child as a ref here because this is a sync dispatch. In
+  // the error case for InitIPDL, we can't just let the RefPtr go out of
+  // scope at the end of the method because it will release the
+  // RemoteAudioDecoderChild on the wrong thread.  This will assert in
+  // RemoteDecoderChild's destructor.  Passing the RefPtr by reference
+  // allows us to release the RemoteAudioDecoderChild on the manager
+  // thread during this single dispatch.
+  RefPtr<Runnable> task =
+      NS_NewRunnableFunction("RemoteDecoderModule::CreateAudioDecoder", [&]() {
         result = child->InitIPDL(aParams.AudioConfig(), aParams.mOptions);
+        if (NS_FAILED(result)) {
+          // Release RemoteAudioDecoderChild here, while we're on
+          // manager thread.  Don't just let the RefPtr go out of scope.
+          child = nullptr;
+        }
       });
   SyncRunnable::DispatchToThread(mManagerThread, task);
 
@@ -124,10 +136,22 @@ already_AddRefed<MediaDataDecoder> RemoteDecoderModule::CreateVideoDecoder(
 
   RefPtr<RemoteVideoDecoderChild> child = new RemoteVideoDecoderChild();
   MediaResult result(NS_OK);
-  RefPtr<Runnable> task = NS_NewRunnableFunction(
-      "RemoteDecoderModule::CreateVideoDecoder", [&, child]() {
+  // We can use child as a ref here because this is a sync dispatch. In
+  // the error case for InitIPDL, we can't just let the RefPtr go out of
+  // scope at the end of the method because it will release the
+  // RemoteVideoDecoderChild on the wrong thread.  This will assert in
+  // RemoteDecoderChild's destructor.  Passing the RefPtr by reference
+  // allows us to release the RemoteVideoDecoderChild on the manager
+  // thread during this single dispatch.
+  RefPtr<Runnable> task =
+      NS_NewRunnableFunction("RemoteDecoderModule::CreateVideoDecoder", [&]() {
         result = child->InitIPDL(aParams.VideoConfig(), aParams.mRate.mValue,
                                  aParams.mOptions);
+        if (NS_FAILED(result)) {
+          // Release RemoteVideoDecoderChild here, while we're on
+          // manager thread.  Don't just let the RefPtr go out of scope.
+          child = nullptr;
+        }
       });
   SyncRunnable::DispatchToThread(mManagerThread, task);