diff --git a/src/engine/playback.cpp b/src/engine/playback.cpp
index 0fa7f32bd..2377e16a6 100644
--- a/src/engine/playback.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/playback.cpp
@@ -1280,6 +1280,11 @@ bool DivEngine::nextTick(bool noAccum, bool inhibitLowLat) {
         }
       }
     }
+  } else {
+    // still tick the subtick counter
+    if (--subticks<=0) {
+      subticks=tickMult;
+    }
   }
 
   firstTick=false;