diff --git a/sword1/animation.cpp b/sword1/animation.cpp
index 960e8f8306e..9212656762c 100644
--- a/sword1/animation.cpp
+++ b/sword1/animation.cpp
@@ -307,6 +307,10 @@ bool AnimationState::decodeFrame() {
 				 * frames if we run behind and delaying if we are too fast
 				 */
 
+				/* Avoid deadlock is sound was too far ahead */
+				if (bgSoundStream && !bgSound.isActive())
+					return false;
+
 #ifdef BACKEND_8BIT
 				if (checkPaletteSwitch() || (bgSoundStream == NULL) ||
                                     ((_snd->getChannelElapsedTime(bgSound) * 12) / 1000 < framenum + 1)) {
diff --git a/sword2/driver/animation.cpp b/sword2/driver/animation.cpp
index 31a008cab99..4b915c913cd 100644
--- a/sword2/driver/animation.cpp
+++ b/sword2/driver/animation.cpp
@@ -352,6 +352,10 @@ bool AnimationState::decodeFrame() {
 				 * frames if we run behind and delaying if we are too fast
 				 */
 
+				/* Avoid deadlock is sound was too far ahead */
+				if (bgSoundStream && !bgSound.isActive())
+					return false;
+
 #ifdef BACKEND_8BIT
 				if (checkPaletteSwitch() || (bgSoundStream == NULL) ||
 					((_vm->_mixer->getChannelElapsedTime(bgSound) * 12) / 1000 < framenum + 1)) {