diff --git a/src/engine/playback.cpp b/src/engine/playback.cpp
index 9000b1288..9421702e1 100644
--- a/src/engine/playback.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/playback.cpp
@@ -2070,6 +2070,7 @@ void DivEngine::runMidiClock(int totalCycles) {
 
 void DivEngine::runMidiTime(int totalCycles) {
   if (freelance) return;
+  if (got.rate<1) return;
   midiTimeCycles-=totalCycles;
   while (midiTimeCycles<=0) {
     if (curMidiTimePiece==0) {