diff --git a/audio.c b/audio.c
index 7855887c..181129e0 100644
--- a/audio.c
+++ b/audio.c
@@ -105,13 +105,10 @@ static int AudioStereoDescent;		///< volume descent for stereo
 static int AudioVolume;			///< current volume (0 .. 1000)
 
 extern int VideoAudioDelay;		///< import audio/video delay
-extern volatile char SoftIsPlayingVideo;    ///< stream contains video data
 
     /// default ring buffer size ~2s 8ch 16bit (3 * 5 * 7 * 8)
 static const unsigned AudioRingBufferSize = 3 * 5 * 7 * 8 * 2 * 1000;
 
-#define AUDIO_MIN_BUFFER_FREE (3072 * 8 * 8)
-
 static int AudioChannelsInHw[9];	///< table which channels are supported
 enum _audio_rates
 {					///< sample rates enumeration
@@ -1333,7 +1330,6 @@ static int AudioNextRing(void)
     int sample_rate;
     int channels;
     size_t used;
-    size_t remain;
 
     // update audio format
     // not always needed, but check if needed is too complex
@@ -1357,13 +1353,7 @@ static int AudioNextRing(void)
 	/ (AudioRing[AudioRingWrite].HwSampleRate * AudioRing[AudioRingWrite].HwChannels * AudioBytesProSample));
 
     used = RingBufferUsedBytes(AudioRing[AudioRingRead].RingBuffer);
-    remain = RingBufferFreeBytes(AudioRing[AudioRingRead].RingBuffer);
-    // stop, if not enough in next buffer
-    if (remain <= AUDIO_MIN_BUFFER_FREE) {
-	Debug5("audio: force start");
-    }
-    if (remain <= AUDIO_MIN_BUFFER_FREE || ((AudioVideoIsReady || !SoftIsPlayingVideo)
-	    && AudioStartThreshold < used)) {
+    if (AudioStartThreshold * 4 < used || (AudioVideoIsReady && AudioStartThreshold < used)) {
 	return 0;
     }
     return 1;
@@ -1590,7 +1580,6 @@ void AudioEnqueue(const void *samples, int count)
 
     if (!AudioRunning) {		// check, if we can start the thread
 	int skip;
-	size_t remain;
 
 	n = RingBufferUsedBytes(AudioRing[AudioRingWrite].RingBuffer);
 	skip = AudioSkip;
@@ -1610,12 +1599,8 @@ void AudioEnqueue(const void *samples, int count)
 	    n = RingBufferUsedBytes(AudioRing[AudioRingWrite].RingBuffer);
 	}
 	// forced start or enough video + audio buffered
-	remain = RingBufferFreeBytes(AudioRing[AudioRingRead].RingBuffer);
-	if (remain <= AUDIO_MIN_BUFFER_FREE) {
-	    Debug5("audio: force start");
-	}
-	if (remain <= AUDIO_MIN_BUFFER_FREE || ((AudioVideoIsReady || !SoftIsPlayingVideo)
-		&& AudioStartThreshold < n)) {
+	// for some exotic channels * 4 too small
+	if (AudioStartThreshold * 4 < n || (AudioVideoIsReady && AudioStartThreshold < n)) {
 	    // restart play-back
 	    // no lock needed, can wakeup next time
 	    AudioRunning = 1;
diff --git a/vaapidevice.cpp b/vaapidevice.cpp
index d65a6bd5..9b8c29c6 100644
--- a/vaapidevice.cpp
+++ b/vaapidevice.cpp
@@ -124,7 +124,6 @@ static volatile int DoMakePrimary;	///< switch primary device to this
 #define SUSPEND_NORMAL		1	    ///< normal suspend mode
 #define SUSPEND_DETACHED	2	    ///< detached suspend mode
 static signed char SuspendMode;		///< suspend mode
-volatile char SoftIsPlayingVideo;	///< stream contains video data
 static cString CommandLineParameters = "";  ///< plugin's command-line parameters
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////