diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp
index 3d2795ce1..fcdc60ee3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp
@@ -628,9 +628,7 @@ void OpenAL_Sound3D::update()
 {
     ALfloat gain = mVolume*mBaseVolume;
     ALfloat pitch = mPitch;
-    if(mPos.squaredDistance(mOutput.mPos) > mMaxDistance*mMaxDistance)
-        gain = 0.0f;
-    else if(!(mFlags&MWBase::SoundManager::Play_NoEnv) && mOutput.mLastEnvironment == Env_Underwater)
+    if(!(mFlags&MWBase::SoundManager::Play_NoEnv) && mOutput.mLastEnvironment == Env_Underwater)
     {
         gain *= 0.9f;
         pitch *= 0.7f;
@@ -696,7 +694,7 @@ void OpenAL_Output::init(const std::string &devname)
         fail(std::string("Failed to setup context: ")+alcGetString(mDevice, alcGetError(mDevice)));
     }
 
-    alDistanceModel(AL_LINEAR_DISTANCE_CLAMPED);
+    alDistanceModel(AL_INVERSE_DISTANCE);
     throwALerror();
 
     ALCint maxmono=0, maxstereo=0;