diff --git a/resources/lib/app/playstate.py b/resources/lib/app/playstate.py
index 0266c65d..d5235ff4 100644
--- a/resources/lib/app/playstate.py
+++ b/resources/lib/app/playstate.py
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ class PlayState(object):
         }
         self.played_info = {}
 
+        # Currently playing PKC item, a PlaylistItem()
+        self.item = None
+
         # Set by SpecialMonitor - did user choose to resume playback or start from the
         # beginning?
         # Set to None if resume dialog has not been shown
diff --git a/resources/lib/kodimonitor.py b/resources/lib/kodimonitor.py
index a7b615ab..c810cb8f 100644
--- a/resources/lib/kodimonitor.py
+++ b/resources/lib/kodimonitor.py
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@ from . import backgroundthread, app, variables as v
 LOG = getLogger('PLEX.kodimonitor')
 
 # "Start from beginning", "Play from beginning"
-STRINGS = (utils.try_encode(utils.lang(12021)),
-           utils.try_encode(utils.lang(12023)))
+STRINGS = (utils.lang(12021).encode('utf-8'), utils.lang(12023).encode('utf-8'))
 
 
 class KodiMonitor(xbmc.Monitor):
@@ -107,29 +106,7 @@ class KodiMonitor(xbmc.Monitor):
             with app.APP.lock_playqueues:
                 self._playlist_onclear(data)
         elif method == "VideoLibrary.OnUpdate":
-            # Manually marking as watched/unwatched
-            playcount = data.get('playcount')
-            item = data.get('item')
-            if playcount is None or item is None:
-                return
-            try:
-                kodi_id = item['id']
-                kodi_type = item['type']
-            except (KeyError, TypeError):
-                LOG.info("Item is invalid for playstate update.")
-                return
-            # Send notification to the server.
-            with PlexDB() as plexdb:
-                db_item = plexdb.item_by_kodi_id(kodi_id, kodi_type)
-            if not db_item:
-                LOG.error("Could not find plex_id in plex database for a "
-                          "video library update")
-            else:
-                # notify the server
-                if playcount > 0:
-                    PF.scrobble(db_item['plex_id'], 'watched')
-                else:
-                    PF.scrobble(db_item['plex_id'], 'unwatched')
+            _videolibrary_onupdate(data)
         elif method == "VideoLibrary.OnRemove":
             pass
         elif method == "System.OnSleep":
@@ -423,6 +400,8 @@ class KodiMonitor(xbmc.Monitor):
                 container_key = '/playQueues/%s' % playqueue.id
             else:
                 container_key = '/library/metadata/%s' % plex_id
+        # Remember the currently playing item
+        app.PLAYSTATE.item = item
         # Remember that this player has been active
         app.PLAYSTATE.active_players.add(playerid)
         status.update(info)
@@ -470,6 +449,7 @@ def _playback_cleanup(ended=False):
         app.PLAYSTATE.player_states[playerid] = copy.deepcopy(app.PLAYSTATE.template)
     # As all playback has halted, reset the players that have been active
     app.PLAYSTATE.active_players = set()
+    app.PLAYSTATE.item = None
     LOG.info('Finished PKC playback cleanup')
 
 
@@ -639,6 +619,41 @@ def _notify_upnext(item):
     xbmc.executebuiltin('NotifyAll(%s, %s, %s)' % (sender, method, data))
 
 
+def _videolibrary_onupdate(data):
+    """
+    A specific Kodi library item has been updated. This seems to happen if the
+    user marks an item as watched/unwatched or if playback of the item just
+    stopped
+    """
+    playcount = data.get('playcount')
+    item = data.get('item')
+    if playcount is None or item is None:
+        return
+    try:
+        kodi_id = item['id']
+        kodi_type = item['type']
+    except (KeyError, TypeError):
+        LOG.info("Item is invalid for playstate update.")
+        return
+    if app.PLAYSTATE.item and kodi_id == app.PLAYSTATE.item.kodi_id and \
+            kodi_type == app.PLAYSTATE.item.kodi_type:
+        # Kodi updates an item immediately after playback. Hence we do NOT
+        # increase or decrease the viewcount
+        return
+    # Send notification to the server.
+    with PlexDB(lock=False) as plexdb:
+        db_item = plexdb.item_by_kodi_id(kodi_id, kodi_type)
+    if not db_item:
+        LOG.error("Could not find plex_id in plex database for a "
+                  "video library update")
+        return
+    # notify the server
+    if playcount > 0:
+        PF.scrobble(db_item['plex_id'], 'watched')
+    else:
+        PF.scrobble(db_item['plex_id'], 'unwatched')
+
+
 class ContextMonitor(backgroundthread.KillableThread):
     """
     Detect the resume dialog for widgets. Could also be used to detect