Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are described for live media playback adaptive buffer control. For example, when media accumulated in the live buffer exceeds a user-configured threshold, media can be played out faster. In this manner, the media player is configured not to discard media packets, but rather to render the buffered media faster to slowly eliminate accumulated backlog. Preventing unbounded buffer accumulation may be desirable in applications like video surveillance, live video broadcast, webcast, and the like.