diff --git a/src/utils/webrtc/simplewebrtc/peer.js b/src/utils/webrtc/simplewebrtc/peer.js
index 6b0a987a8f4..9689e02f901 100644
--- a/src/utils/webrtc/simplewebrtc/peer.js
+++ b/src/utils/webrtc/simplewebrtc/peer.js
@@ -561,6 +561,9 @@ Peer.prototype.sendDirectly = function(channel, messageType, payload) {
 	}
 	this.logger.log('sending via datachannel', channel, messageType, message)
 	const dc = this.getDataChannel(channel)
+	if (!dc) {
+		return false
+	}
 	if (dc.readyState !== 'open') {
 		if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(this.pendingDCMessages, channel)) {
 			this.pendingDCMessages[channel] = []
@@ -598,6 +601,9 @@ Peer.prototype.getDataChannel = function(name, opts) {
 	if (!webrtcSupport.supportDataChannel) {
 		return this.emit('error', new Error('createDataChannel not supported'))
 	}
+	if (!this.enableDataChannels) {
+		return null
+	}
 	let channel = this.channels[name]
 	opts || (opts = {})
 	if (channel) {
@@ -635,9 +641,7 @@ Peer.prototype.start = function() {
 	// a) create a datachannel a priori
 	// b) do a renegotiation later to add the SCTP m-line
 	// Let's do (a) first...
-	if (this.enableDataChannels) {
-		this.getDataChannel('simplewebrtc')
-	}
+	this.getDataChannel('simplewebrtc')
 
 	this.offer(this.receiveMedia)
 }
diff --git a/src/utils/webrtc/webrtc.js b/src/utils/webrtc/webrtc.js
index c5b97f7abbc..49d26814721 100644
--- a/src/utils/webrtc/webrtc.js
+++ b/src/utils/webrtc/webrtc.js
@@ -693,8 +693,11 @@ export default function initWebRtc(signaling, _callParticipantCollection, _local
 	const sendDataChannelToAll = function(channel, message, payload) {
 		// If running with MCU, the message must be sent through the
 		// publishing peer and will be distributed by the MCU to subscribers.
-		if (ownPeer && signaling.hasFeature && signaling.hasFeature('mcu')) {
-			ownPeer.sendDirectly(channel, message, payload)
+		if (signaling.hasFeature && signaling.hasFeature('mcu')) {
+			if (ownPeer) {
+				ownPeer.sendDirectly(channel, message, payload)
+			}
+
 			return
 		}
 		webrtc.sendDirectlyToAll(channel, message, payload)
@@ -1169,6 +1172,15 @@ export default function initWebRtc(signaling, _callParticipantCollection, _local
 			} else {
 				callParticipantModel.setScreenPeer(peer)
 			}
+
+			// The SIP bridge publisher does not have data channels, so they
+			// need to be explicitly disabled in the subscriber. Otherwise it
+			// would try to open them, which would cause an endless loop of
+			// renegotiations, as after a negotiation the data channels will
+			// still not be opened, which will trigger a negotiation again.
+			if (callParticipantModel.get('internal')) {
+				peer.enableDataChannels = false
+			}
 		}
 
 		if (peer.type === 'video') {
@@ -1182,10 +1194,10 @@ export default function initWebRtc(signaling, _callParticipantCollection, _local
 
 			setHandlerForNegotiationNeeded(peer)
 
-			// Make sure required data channels exist for all peers. This
-			// is required for peers that get created by SimpleWebRTC from
-			// received "Offer" messages. Otherwise the "channelMessage"
-			// will not be called.
+			// Make sure required data channels exist for all peers (that have
+			// not disabled them). This is required for peers that get created
+			// by SimpleWebRTC from received "Offer" messages. Otherwise the
+			// "channelMessage" will not be called.
 			peer.getDataChannel('status')
 		}
 	})