diff --git a/src/engine/playback.cpp b/src/engine/playback.cpp
index 89207ce54..0c8f4fdbf 100644
--- a/src/engine/playback.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/playback.cpp
@@ -2556,7 +2556,7 @@ void DivEngine::nextBuf(float** in, float** out, int inChans, int outChans, unsi
 
   memset(metroBuf,0,metroBufLen*sizeof(float));
 
-  if (mustPlay && metronome) {
+  if (mustPlay && metronome && !freelance) {
     for (size_t i=0; i<size; i++) {
       if (metroTick[i]) {
         if (metroTick[i]==2) {