diff --git a/alsaaudio.c b/alsaaudio.c
index fb1c8de..7ca6a91 100644
--- a/alsaaudio.c
+++ b/alsaaudio.c
@@ -1423,8 +1423,6 @@ alsapcm_read(alsapcm_t *self, PyObject *args)
 
 static PyObject *alsapcm_write(alsapcm_t *self, PyObject *args)
 {
-	snd_pcm_state_t state;
-	int res;
 	int datalen;
 	char *data;
 	PyObject *rc = NULL;
@@ -1464,10 +1462,11 @@ static PyObject *alsapcm_write(alsapcm_t *self, PyObject *args)
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
+	int res;
 	snd_pcm_state_t state = snd_pcm_state(self->handle);
 
-	if (state != SND_PCM_STATE_SETUP) {
-		res = snd_pcm_prepare(self->handle));
+	if ((state != SND_PCM_STATE_XRUN && state != SND_PCM_STATE_SETUP) ||
+		(res = snd_pcm_prepare(self->handle)) >= 0) {
 		Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS
 		res = snd_pcm_writei(self->handle, data, datalen/self->framesize);
 		if (res == -EPIPE) {