diff --git a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-utils.c b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-utils.c
index 9a8f3240b..440359388 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-utils.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-utils.c
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ again:
 			return res;
 	}
 
-	if (!spa_list_is_empty(&state->ready) && total_written < state->threshold)
+	if (!spa_list_is_empty(&state->ready) && total_written < state->threshold && written > 0)
 		goto again;
 
 	state->sample_count += total_written;