diff --git a/packager/live_packager.cc b/packager/live_packager.cc
index 1bbda839598..70eb78518fa 100644
--- a/packager/live_packager.cc
+++ b/packager/live_packager.cc
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ namespace {
 
 using StreamDescriptors = std::vector<shaka::StreamDescriptor>;
 
-constexpr double SEGMENT_DURATION = 5.0;
+// Shaka requires a non-zero value for segment duration otherwise it throws an error.
+// For our use-case of packaging segments individually, this value has no effect.
+constexpr double DEFAULT_SEGMENT_DURATION = 5.0;
 
 const std::string INPUT_FNAME = "memory://input_file";
 const std::string INIT_SEGMENT_FNAME = "init.mp4";
@@ -249,7 +251,7 @@ Status LivePackager::PackageInit(const Segment& init_segment,
 
   shaka::PackagingParams packaging_params;
   packaging_params.chunking_params.segment_duration_in_seconds =
-      SEGMENT_DURATION;
+      DEFAULT_SEGMENT_DURATION;
 
   // in order to enable init packaging as a separate execution.
   packaging_params.init_segment_only = true;
@@ -308,7 +310,7 @@ Status LivePackager::Package(const Segment& init_segment,
 
   shaka::PackagingParams packaging_params;
   packaging_params.chunking_params.segment_duration_in_seconds =
-      SEGMENT_DURATION;
+      DEFAULT_SEGMENT_DURATION;
 
   packaging_params.mp4_output_params.sequence_number = config_.segment_number;