diff --git a/src/devices/sound/es5503.cpp b/src/devices/sound/es5503.cpp
index f22d11473fc..576e779c93b 100644
--- a/src/devices/sound/es5503.cpp
+++ b/src/devices/sound/es5503.cpp
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ u8 es5503_device::read(offs_t offset)
 					}
 				}
 
-				return retval;
+				return retval | 0x41;
 
 			case 0xe1:  // oscillator enable
 				return oscsenabled<<1;