diff --git a/sound/pci/cmipci.c b/sound/pci/cmipci.c
index 1ded64e05643..329968edca9b 100644
--- a/sound/pci/cmipci.c
+++ b/sound/pci/cmipci.c
@@ -941,13 +941,21 @@ static snd_pcm_uframes_t snd_cmipci_pcm_pointer(struct cmipci *cm, struct cmipci
 						struct snd_pcm_substream *substream)
 {
 	size_t ptr;
-	unsigned int reg;
+	unsigned int reg, rem, tries;
+
 	if (!rec->running)
 		return 0;
 #if 1 // this seems better..
 	reg = rec->ch ? CM_REG_CH1_FRAME2 : CM_REG_CH0_FRAME2;
-	ptr = rec->dma_size - (snd_cmipci_read_w(cm, reg) + 1);
-	ptr >>= rec->shift;
+	for (tries = 0; tries < 3; tries++) {
+		rem = snd_cmipci_read_w(cm, reg);
+		if (rem < rec->dma_size)
+			goto ok;
+	} 
+	printk(KERN_ERR "cmipci: invalid PCM pointer: %#x\n", rem);
+	return SNDRV_PCM_POS_XRUN;
+ok:
+	ptr = (rec->dma_size - (rem + 1)) >> rec->shift;
 #else
 	reg = rec->ch ? CM_REG_CH1_FRAME1 : CM_REG_CH0_FRAME1;
 	ptr = snd_cmipci_read(cm, reg) - rec->offset;