diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
index ea34881fa..20955f22a 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
@@ -1148,6 +1148,46 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         }
     }
 
+    void Actors::updateCombatMusic ()
+    {
+        MWWorld::Ptr player = getPlayer();
+        int hostilesCount = 0; // need to know this to play Battle music
+
+        for(PtrActorMap::iterator iter(mActors.begin()); iter != mActors.end(); ++iter)
+        {
+            if (!iter->first.getClass().getCreatureStats(iter->first).isDead())
+            {
+                bool inProcessingRange = (player.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3() - iter->first.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3()).length2()
+                        <= sqrAiProcessingDistance;
+
+                if (MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->isAIActive() && inProcessingRange)
+                {
+                    if (iter->first != player)
+                    {
+                        MWMechanics::CreatureStats& stats = iter->first.getClass().getCreatureStats(iter->first);
+                        if (stats.getAiSequence().isInCombat() && !stats.isDead()) hostilesCount++;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        // check if we still have any player enemies to switch music
+        static int currentMusic = 0;
+
+        if (currentMusic != 1 && hostilesCount == 0 && !(player.getClass().getCreatureStats(player).isDead() &&
+        MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->isMusicPlaying()))
+        {
+            MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playPlaylist(std::string("Explore"));
+            currentMusic = 1;
+        }
+        else if (currentMusic != 2 && hostilesCount > 0)
+        {
+            MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playPlaylist(std::string("Battle"));
+            currentMusic = 2;
+        }
+
+    }
+
     void Actors::update (float duration, bool paused)
     {
         if(!paused)
@@ -1165,8 +1205,6 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
             MWWorld::Ptr player = getPlayer();
 
-            int hostilesCount = 0; // need to know this to play Battle music
-
             /// \todo move update logic to Actor class where appropriate
 
             std::map<const MWWorld::Ptr, const std::set<MWWorld::Ptr> > cachedAllies; // will be filled as engageCombat iterates
@@ -1257,8 +1295,6 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                             CreatureStats &stats = iter->first.getClass().getCreatureStats(iter->first);
                             if (isConscious(iter->first))
                                 stats.getAiSequence().execute(iter->first, *iter->second->getCharacterController(), iter->second->getAiState(), duration);
-
-                            if (stats.getAiSequence().isInCombat() && !stats.isDead()) hostilesCount++;
                         }
                     }
 
@@ -1331,21 +1367,6 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
             killDeadActors();
 
-            // check if we still have any player enemies to switch music
-            static int currentMusic = 0;
-
-            if (currentMusic != 1 && hostilesCount == 0 && !(player.getClass().getCreatureStats(player).isDead() &&
-            MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->isMusicPlaying()))
-            {
-                MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playPlaylist(std::string("Explore"));
-                currentMusic = 1;
-            }
-            else if (currentMusic != 2 && hostilesCount > 0)
-            {
-                MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playPlaylist(std::string("Battle"));
-                currentMusic = 2;
-            }
-
             static float sneakTimer = 0.f; // times update of sneak icon
 
             // if player is in sneak state see if anyone detects him
@@ -1412,6 +1433,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                 MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->setSneakVisibility(false);
             }
         }
+
+        updateCombatMusic();
     }
 
     void Actors::killDeadActors()
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.hpp
index 7ed89d0e4..13641abf4 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.hpp
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             void dropActors (const MWWorld::CellStore *cellStore, const MWWorld::Ptr& ignore);
             ///< Deregister all actors (except for \a ignore) in the given cell.
 
+            void updateCombatMusic();
+            ///< Update combat music state
+
             void update (float duration, bool paused);
             ///< Update actor stats and store desired velocity vectors in \a movement