diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp
index 61a5cc3a3..33202ba74 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp
@@ -970,6 +970,17 @@ MWBase::SoundPtr OpenAL_Output::streamSound3D(DecoderPtr decoder, const osg::Vec
 }
 
 
+void OpenAL_Output::startUpdate()
+{
+    alcSuspendContext(alcGetCurrentContext());
+}
+
+void OpenAL_Output::finishUpdate()
+{
+    alcProcessContext(alcGetCurrentContext());
+}
+
+
 void OpenAL_Output::updateListener(const osg::Vec3f &pos, const osg::Vec3f &atdir, const osg::Vec3f &updir, Environment env)
 {
     mPos = pos;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.hpp
index 912bebb56..0f54da9b5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.hpp
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ namespace MWSound
         virtual MWBase::SoundPtr streamSound3D(DecoderPtr decoder, const osg::Vec3f &pos,
                                                float vol, float basevol, float pitch, float min, float max, int flags);
 
+        virtual void startUpdate();
+        virtual void finishUpdate();
+
         virtual void updateListener(const osg::Vec3f &pos, const osg::Vec3f &atdir, const osg::Vec3f &updir, Environment env);
 
         virtual void pauseSounds(int types);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_output.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_output.hpp
index 86be94d33..c91431f69 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_output.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_output.hpp
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ namespace MWSound
         virtual MWBase::SoundPtr streamSound3D(DecoderPtr decoder, const osg::Vec3f &pos,
                                                float vol, float basevol, float pitch, float min, float max, int flags) = 0;
 
+        virtual void startUpdate() = 0;
+        virtual void finishUpdate() = 0;
+
         virtual void updateListener(const osg::Vec3f &pos, const osg::Vec3f &atdir, const osg::Vec3f &updir, Environment env) = 0;
 
         virtual void pauseSounds(int types) = 0;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.cpp
index ebc3aab7e..3ccc1c715 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -803,6 +803,7 @@ namespace MWSound
             mUnderwaterSound.reset();
         }
 
+        mOutput->startUpdate();
         mOutput->updateListener(
             mListenerPos,
             mListenerDir,
@@ -848,6 +849,7 @@ namespace MWSound
             else
                 ++sayiter;
         }
+        mOutput->finishUpdate();
     }
 
     bool SoundManager::updateSound(MWBase::SoundPtr sound, const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, float duration)
@@ -905,6 +907,9 @@ namespace MWSound
         mFootstepsVolume = Settings::Manager::getFloat("footsteps volume", "Sound");
         mVoiceVolume = Settings::Manager::getFloat("voice volume", "Sound");
 
+        if(!mOutput->isInitialized())
+            return;
+        mOutput->startUpdate();
         SoundMap::iterator snditer = mActiveSounds.begin();
         for(;snditer != mActiveSounds.end();++snditer)
         {
@@ -928,6 +933,7 @@ namespace MWSound
             mMusic->mBaseVolume = volumeFromType(mMusic->getPlayType());
             mMusic->update();
         }
+        mOutput->finishUpdate();
     }
 
     void SoundManager::setListenerPosDir(const osg::Vec3f &pos, const osg::Vec3f &dir, const osg::Vec3f &up)