diff --git a/src/emu/sound.cpp b/src/emu/sound.cpp
index be16a3476e3..03bc588270c 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound.cpp
+++ b/src/emu/sound.cpp
@@ -268,6 +268,9 @@ void sound_stream::update()
 	attotime time = m_device.machine().time();
 	s32 update_sampindex = s32(time.attoseconds() / m_attoseconds_per_sample);
 
+	if (update_sampindex <= m_output_sampindex)
+		return;
+
 	// if we're ahead of the last update, then adjust upwards
 	attotime last_update = m_device.machine().sound().last_update();
 	if (time.seconds() > last_update.seconds())