diff --git a/src/pcm.c b/src/pcm.c
index 75fc85c..62489a6 100644
--- a/src/pcm.c
+++ b/src/pcm.c
@@ -587,13 +587,9 @@ int pcm_readi(struct pcm *pcm, void *data, unsigned int frame_count)
     x.frames = frame_count;
     x.result = 0;
     for (;;) {
-        if (!pcm->running) {
-            if (pcm_start(pcm) < 0) {
-                fprintf(stderr, "start error");
-                return -errno;
-            }
-        }
-        if (ioctl(pcm->fd, SNDRV_PCM_IOCTL_READI_FRAMES, &x)) {
+        if ((!pcm->running) && (pcm_start(pcm) < 0))
+            return -errno;
+        else if (ioctl(pcm->fd, SNDRV_PCM_IOCTL_READI_FRAMES, &x)) {
             pcm->prepared = 0;
             pcm->running = 0;
             if (errno == EPIPE) {