diff --git a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview/preview-aud.js b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview/preview-aud.js
index 904d265d..722272b1 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview/preview-aud.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview/preview-aud.js
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ const updateGui = () => {
 
 const addUnloadFn = el => {
     el.unload = () => {
+        el.pause();
         el.src = '';
         el.load();
     };
diff --git a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview/preview-vid.js b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview/preview-vid.js
index 04e21a03..4c0d5923 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview/preview-vid.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/ext/preview/preview-vid.js
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ const updateGui = () => {
 
 const addUnloadFn = el => {
     el.unload = () => {
+        el.pause();
         el.src = '';
         el.load();
     };