diff --git a/openlp/plugins/media/lib/mediaitem.py b/openlp/plugins/media/lib/mediaitem.py
index 40ea7abb1..013d93009 100644
--- a/openlp/plugins/media/lib/mediaitem.py
+++ b/openlp/plugins/media/lib/mediaitem.py
@@ -132,14 +132,18 @@ class MediaMediaItem(MediaManagerItem):
             self.mediaObject.play()
             service_item.title = unicode(self.plugin.nameStrings[u'singular'])
             service_item.add_capability(ItemCapabilities.RequiresMedia)
-            service_item.add_capability(ItemCapabilities.AllowsVarableStartTime)
             # force a nonexistent theme
             service_item.theme = -1
             frame = u':/media/image_clapperboard.png'
             (path, name) = os.path.split(filename)
-            while not self.mediaState:
-                Receiver.send_message(u'openlp_process_events')
-            service_item.media_length = self.mediaLength
+            file_size = os.path.getsize(filename)
+            # File too big for processing
+            if file_size <= 52428800: # 50MiB
+                while not self.mediaState:
+                    Receiver.send_message(u'openlp_process_events')
+                service_item.media_length = self.mediaLength
+                service_item.add_capability(
+                    ItemCapabilities.AllowsVarableStartTime)
             service_item.add_from_command(path, name, frame)
             return True
         else: