diff --git a/docs/source/options/hls_options.rst b/docs/source/options/hls_options.rst
index 476f354627..c2e77f7c9a 100644
--- a/docs/source/options/hls_options.rst
+++ b/docs/source/options/hls_options.rst
@@ -51,3 +51,27 @@ HLS options
 
     Same as above, but this applies to text tracks only, and overrides the
     default language for text tracks.
+
+--hls_media_sequence_number <unsigned_number>
+
+    HLS uses the EXT-X-MEDIA-SEQUENCE tag at the start of a live playlist in
+    order to specify the first segment sequence number. This is because any
+    live playlist have a limited number of segments, and they also keep
+    updating with new segments while removing old ones. When a player refreshes
+    the playlist, this information is important for keeping track of segments
+    positions.
+
+    When the packager starts, it naturally starts this count from zero. However,
+    there are many situations where the packager may be restarted, without this
+    meaning starting this value from zero (but continuing a previous sequence).
+    The most common situations are problems in the encoder feeding the packager.
+
+    With those cases in mind, this parameter allows to set the initial
+    EXT-X-MEDIA-SEQUENCE value. This way, it's possible to continue the sequence
+    number from previous packager run.
+
+    For more information about the reasoning of this, please see issue
+    `#691 <https://github.com/google/shaka-packager/issues/691>`_.
+
+    The EXT-X-MEDIA-SEQUENCE documentation can be read here:
+    https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc8216#section-4.3.3.2.
diff --git a/packager/app/hls_flags.cc b/packager/app/hls_flags.cc
index 956041c8b3..2415ebe0e1 100644
--- a/packager/app/hls_flags.cc
+++ b/packager/app/hls_flags.cc
@@ -24,3 +24,9 @@ DEFINE_string(hls_playlist_type,
               "VOD, EVENT, or LIVE. This defines the EXT-X-PLAYLIST-TYPE in "
               "the HLS specification. For hls_playlist_type of LIVE, "
               "EXT-X-PLAYLIST-TYPE tag is omitted.");
+DEFINE_int32(hls_media_sequence_number,
+              0,
+              "Number. This HLS-only parameter defines the initial "
+              "EXT-X-MEDIA-SEQUENCE value, which allows continuous media "
+              "sequence across packager restarts. See #691 for more "
+              "information about the reasoning of this and its use cases.");
diff --git a/packager/app/hls_flags.h b/packager/app/hls_flags.h
index aa4ea461c9..c48a528e43 100644
--- a/packager/app/hls_flags.h
+++ b/packager/app/hls_flags.h
@@ -13,5 +13,6 @@ DECLARE_string(hls_master_playlist_output);
 DECLARE_string(hls_base_url);
 DECLARE_string(hls_key_uri);
 DECLARE_string(hls_playlist_type);
+DECLARE_int32(hls_media_sequence_number);
 
 #endif  // PACKAGER_APP_HLS_FLAGS_H_
diff --git a/packager/app/packager_main.cc b/packager/app/packager_main.cc
index 926fb6ebe6..31fbb2edc4 100644
--- a/packager/app/packager_main.cc
+++ b/packager/app/packager_main.cc
@@ -470,6 +470,7 @@ base::Optional<PackagingParams> GetPackagingParams() {
       FLAGS_preserved_segments_outside_live_window;
   hls_params.default_language = FLAGS_default_language;
   hls_params.default_text_language = FLAGS_default_text_language;
+  hls_params.media_sequence_number = FLAGS_hls_media_sequence_number;
 
   TestParams& test_params = packaging_params.test_params;
   test_params.dump_stream_info = FLAGS_dump_stream_info;
diff --git a/packager/hls/base/media_playlist.cc b/packager/hls/base/media_playlist.cc
index 98362a0216..9d547f43b4 100644
--- a/packager/hls/base/media_playlist.cc
+++ b/packager/hls/base/media_playlist.cc
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ std::string CreatePlaylistHeader(
     uint32_t target_duration,
     HlsPlaylistType type,
     MediaPlaylist::MediaPlaylistStreamType stream_type,
-    int media_sequence_number,
+    uint32_t media_sequence_number,
     int discontinuity_sequence_number) {
   const std::string version = GetPackagerVersion();
   std::string version_line;
@@ -343,7 +343,12 @@ MediaPlaylist::MediaPlaylist(const HlsParams& hls_params,
     : hls_params_(hls_params),
       file_name_(file_name),
       name_(name),
-      group_id_(group_id) {}
+      group_id_(group_id),
+      media_sequence_number_(hls_params_.media_sequence_number) {
+        // When there's a forced media_sequence_number, start with discontinuity
+        if (media_sequence_number_ > 0)
+          entries_.emplace_back(new DiscontinuityEntry());
+      }
 
 MediaPlaylist::~MediaPlaylist() {}
 
@@ -390,6 +395,7 @@ bool MediaPlaylist::SetMediaInfo(const MediaInfo& media_info) {
   characteristics_ =
       std::vector<std::string>(media_info_.hls_characteristics().begin(),
                                media_info_.hls_characteristics().end());
+
   return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/packager/hls/base/media_playlist.h b/packager/hls/base/media_playlist.h
index 2f595dc2ab..52465c8835 100644
--- a/packager/hls/base/media_playlist.h
+++ b/packager/hls/base/media_playlist.h
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ class MediaPlaylist {
   std::string codec_;
   std::string language_;
   std::vector<std::string> characteristics_;
-  int media_sequence_number_ = 0;
+  uint32_t media_sequence_number_ = 0;
   bool inserted_discontinuity_tag_ = false;
   int discontinuity_sequence_number_ = 0;
 
diff --git a/packager/hls/public/hls_params.h b/packager/hls/public/hls_params.h
index 65f31bffb3..0100fb7969 100644
--- a/packager/hls/public/hls_params.h
+++ b/packager/hls/public/hls_params.h
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ struct HlsParams {
   /// be populated from segment duration specified in ChunkingParams if not
   /// specified.
   double target_segment_duration = 0;
+  /// Custom EXT-X-MEDIA-SEQUENCE value to allow continuous media playback
+  /// across packager restarts. See #691 for details.
+  uint32_t media_sequence_number = 0;
 };
 
 }  // namespace shaka