diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index 672acbe0..ba589f72 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -206,6 +206,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	sender             *auth.Sender
 	cseq               int
 	useGetParameter    bool
+	lastDescribeURL    *base.URL
 	streamBaseURL      *base.URL
 	protocol           *Transport
 	tracks             map[int]clientTrack
@@ -657,6 +658,12 @@ func (c *Client) trySwitchingProtocol() error {
 	c.scheme = prevBaseURL.Scheme
 	c.host = prevBaseURL.Host
 
+	// some Hikvision cameras require a describe before a setup
+	_, _, _, err := c.doDescribe(c.lastDescribeURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	for _, track := range prevTracks {
 		_, err := c.doSetup(true, track.track, prevBaseURL, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -664,7 +671,7 @@ func (c *Client) trySwitchingProtocol() error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	_, err := c.doPlay(c.lastRange, true)
+	_, err = c.doPlay(c.lastRange, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -905,15 +912,15 @@ func (c *Client) do(req *base.Request, skipResponse bool) (*base.Response, error
 		req.Header["Session"] = base.HeaderValue{c.session}
 	}
 
-	if c.sender != nil {
-		c.sender.AddAuthorization(req)
-	}
-
 	c.cseq++
 	req.Header["CSeq"] = base.HeaderValue{strconv.FormatInt(int64(c.cseq), 10)}
 
 	req.Header["User-Agent"] = base.HeaderValue{"gortsplib"}
 
+	if c.sender != nil {
+		c.sender.AddAuthorization(req)
+	}
+
 	if c.OnRequest != nil {
 		c.OnRequest(req)
 	}
@@ -1136,6 +1143,8 @@ func (c *Client) doDescribe(u *base.URL) (Tracks, *base.URL, *base.Response, err
 		return nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
 
+	c.lastDescribeURL = u
+
 	return tracks, baseURL, res, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/client_read_test.go b/client_read_test.go
index 2606c288..427c3fa4 100644
--- a/client_read_test.go
+++ b/client_read_test.go
@@ -1249,6 +1249,21 @@ func TestClientReadAutomaticProtocol(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			br = bufio.NewReader(conn)
 
+			req, err = readRequest(br)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			require.Equal(t, base.Describe, req.Method)
+
+			base.Response{
+				StatusCode: base.StatusOK,
+				Header: base.Header{
+					"Content-Type": base.HeaderValue{"application/sdp"},
+					"Content-Base": base.HeaderValue{"rtsp://localhost:8554/teststream/"},
+				},
+				Body: tracks.Write(false),
+			}.Write(&bb)
+			_, err = conn.Write(bb.Bytes())
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
 			req, err = readRequest(br)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			require.Equal(t, base.Setup, req.Method)