diff --git a/sndiod/dev.c b/sndiod/dev.c
index 0590efb..c6d3451 100644
--- a/sndiod/dev.c
+++ b/sndiod/dev.c
@@ -56,11 +56,10 @@ int play_filt_dec(struct slot *, void *, void *, int);
 void dev_mix_badd(struct dev *, struct slot *);
 void dev_empty_cycle(struct dev *);
 void dev_mix_adjvol(struct dev *);
-void dev_mix_cycle(struct dev *);
 int rec_filt_resamp(struct slot *, void *, void *, int);
 int rec_filt_enc(struct slot *, void *, void *, int);
 void dev_sub_bcopy(struct dev *, struct slot *);
-void dev_sub_cycle(struct dev *);
+void dev_full_cycle(struct dev *);
 
 void dev_onmove(struct dev *, int);
 void dev_master(struct dev *, unsigned int);
@@ -96,8 +95,7 @@ void slot_detach(struct slot *);
 void slot_stop(struct slot *);
 void slot_write(struct slot *);
 void slot_read(struct slot *);
-void slot_mix_drop(struct slot *);
-void slot_sub_sil(struct slot *);
+int slot_skip(struct slot *);
 
 struct midiops dev_midiops = {
 	dev_midi_imsg,
@@ -542,44 +540,42 @@ dev_midi_exit(void *arg)
 		dev_close(d);
 }
 
-void
-slot_mix_drop(struct slot *s)
-{
-	while (s->mix.drop > 0 && s->mix.buf.used >= s->round * s->mix.bpf) {
-#ifdef DEBUG
-		if (log_level >= 4) {
-			slot_log(s);
-			log_puts(": dropped a play block\n");
-		}
-#endif
-		abuf_rdiscard(&s->mix.buf, s->round * s->mix.bpf);
-		s->mix.drop--;
-	}
-}
-
-void
-slot_sub_sil(struct slot *s)
+int
+slot_skip(struct slot *s)
 {
 	unsigned char *data;
-	int count;
+	int max, count;
 
-	while (s->sub.silence > 0) {
-		data = abuf_wgetblk(&s->sub.buf, &count);
-		if (count < s->round * s->sub.bpf)
-			break;
+	max = s->skip;
+	while (s->skip > 0) {
+		if (s->mode & MODE_RECMASK) {
+			data = abuf_wgetblk(&s->sub.buf, &count);
+			if (count < s->round * s->sub.bpf)
+				break;
+		}
+		if (s->mode & MODE_PLAY) {
+			if (s->mix.buf.used < s->round * s->mix.bpf)
+				break;
+		}
 #ifdef DEBUG
 		if (log_level >= 4) {
 			slot_log(s);
-			log_puts(": inserted a rec block of silence\n");
+			log_puts(": skipped a cycle\n");
 		}
 #endif
-		if (s->sub.encbuf)
-			enc_sil_do(&s->sub.enc, data, s->round);
-		else
-			memset(data, 0, s->round * s->sub.bpf);
-		abuf_wcommit(&s->sub.buf, s->round * s->sub.bpf);
-		s->sub.silence--;
+		if (s->mode & MODE_RECMASK) {
+			if (s->sub.encbuf)
+				enc_sil_do(&s->sub.enc, data, s->round);
+			else
+				memset(data, 0, s->round * s->sub.bpf);
+			abuf_wcommit(&s->sub.buf, s->round * s->sub.bpf);
+		}
+		if (s->mode & MODE_PLAY) {
+			abuf_rdiscard(&s->mix.buf, s->round * s->mix.bpf);
+		}
+		s->skip--;		
 	}
+	return max - s->skip;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -717,99 +713,6 @@ dev_mix_adjvol(struct dev *d)
 	}
 }
 
-void
-dev_mix_cycle(struct dev *d)
-{
-	struct slot *s, **ps;
-	unsigned char *base;
-	int nsamp;
-
-#ifdef DEBUG
-	if (log_level >= 4) {
-		dev_log(d);
-		log_puts(": dev_mix_cycle, poffs = ");
-		log_puti(d->poffs);
-		log_puts("\n");
-	}
-#endif
-	base = (unsigned char *)DEV_PBUF(d);
-	nsamp = d->round * d->pchan;
-	memset(base, 0, nsamp * sizeof(adata_t));
-	ps = &d->slot_list;
-	while ((s = *ps) != NULL) {
-		if (!(s->mode & MODE_PLAY)) {
-			ps = &s->next;
-			continue;
-		}
-#ifdef DEBUG
-		if (log_level >= 4) {
-			slot_log(s);
-			log_puts(": mixing, drop = ");
-			log_puti(s->mix.drop);
-			log_puts(" cycles\n");
-		}
-#endif		
-		slot_mix_drop(s);
-		if (s->mix.drop < 0) {
-			s->mix.drop++;
-			ps = &s->next;
-			continue;
-		}
-		if (s->mix.buf.used < s->round * s->mix.bpf &&
-		    s->pstate == SLOT_STOP) {
-			/*
-			 * partial blocks are zero-filled by socket
-			 * layer
-			 */
-			s->pstate = SLOT_INIT;
-			abuf_done(&s->mix.buf);
-			if (s->mix.decbuf)
-				xfree(s->mix.decbuf);
-			if (s->mix.resampbuf)
-				xfree(s->mix.resampbuf);
-			s->ops->eof(s->arg);
-			*ps = s->next;
-			dev_mix_adjvol(d);
-			continue;
-		}
-		if (s->mix.buf.used < s->round * s->mix.bpf &&
-		    !(s->pstate == SLOT_STOP)) {
-			if (s->xrun == XRUN_IGNORE) {
-				if (s->mode & MODE_RECMASK)
-					s->sub.silence--;
-				s->delta -= s->round;
-#ifdef DEBUG
-				if (log_level >= 3) {
-					slot_log(s);
-					log_puts(": underrun, pause cycle\n");
-				}
-#endif
-				ps = &s->next;
-				continue;
-			}
-			if (s->xrun == XRUN_SYNC) {
-				s->mix.drop++;
-				ps = &s->next;
-				continue;
-			}
-			if (s->xrun == XRUN_ERROR) {
-				s->ops->exit(s->arg);
-				*ps = s->next;
-				continue;
-			}
-		} else {
-			dev_mix_badd(d, s);
-			if (s->pstate != SLOT_STOP)
-				s->ops->fill(s->arg);
-		}
-		ps = &s->next;
-	}
-	if (d->encbuf) {
-		enc_do(&d->enc, (unsigned char *)DEV_PBUF(d),
-		    d->encbuf, d->round);
-	}
-}
-
 int 
 rec_filt_resamp(struct slot *s, void *in, void *res_out, int todo)
 {
@@ -873,60 +776,134 @@ dev_sub_bcopy(struct dev *d, struct slot *s)
 }
 
 void
-dev_sub_cycle(struct dev *d)
+dev_full_cycle(struct dev *d)
 {
 	struct slot *s, **ps;
+	unsigned char *base;
+	int nsamp;
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
 	if (log_level >= 4) {
 		dev_log(d);
-		log_puts(": dev_sub_cycle\n");
+		log_puts(": dev_full_cycle");
+		if (d->mode & MODE_PLAY) {
+			log_puts(", poffs = ");
+			log_puti(d->poffs);
+		}
+		log_puts("\n");
 	}
 #endif
+	if (d->mode & MODE_PLAY) {
+		base = (unsigned char *)DEV_PBUF(d);
+		nsamp = d->round * d->pchan;
+		memset(base, 0, nsamp * sizeof(adata_t));
+	}
 	if ((d->mode & MODE_REC) && d->decbuf)
 		dec_do(&d->dec, d->decbuf, (unsigned char *)d->rbuf, d->round);
 	ps = &d->slot_list;
 	while ((s = *ps) != NULL) {
-		if (!(s->mode & MODE_RECMASK) || s->pstate == SLOT_STOP) {
-			ps = &s->next;
-			continue;
-		}
-		slot_sub_sil(s);
-		if (s->sub.silence < 0) {
-			s->sub.silence++;
-			ps = &s->next;
-			continue;
-		}
-		if (s->sub.buf.len - s->sub.buf.used < s->round * s->sub.bpf) {
-			if (s->xrun == XRUN_IGNORE) {
-				if (s->mode & MODE_PLAY)
-					s->mix.drop--;
-				s->delta -= s->round;
 #ifdef DEBUG
-				if (log_level >= 3) {
-					slot_log(s);
-					log_puts(": overrun, pause cycle\n");
-				}
+		if (log_level >= 4) {
+			slot_log(s);
+			log_puts(": running");
+			log_puts(", skip = ");
+			log_puti(s->skip);
+			log_puts("\n");
+		}
 #endif
+		slot_skip(s);
+		if (s->skip < 0) {
+			s->skip++;
+			ps = &s->next;
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		/*
+		 * check if stopped stream finished draining
+		 */
+		if (s->pstate == SLOT_STOP) {
+			if (s->mode & MODE_PLAY) {
+				if (s->mix.buf.used < s->round * s->mix.bpf) {
+					/*
+					 * partial blocks are
+					 * zero-filled by socket layer
+					 */
+					s->pstate = SLOT_INIT;
+					abuf_done(&s->mix.buf);
+					if (s->mix.decbuf)
+						xfree(s->mix.decbuf);
+					if (s->mix.resampbuf)
+						xfree(s->mix.resampbuf);
+					s->ops->eof(s->arg);
+					*ps = s->next;
+					dev_mix_adjvol(d);
+					continue;
+				}
+			} else {
 				ps = &s->next;
 				continue;
 			}
-			if (s->xrun == XRUN_SYNC) {
-				s->sub.silence++;
-				ps = &s->next;
-				continue;
+		}
+		
+		/*
+		 * check for xruns
+		 */
+		if (((s->mode & MODE_PLAY) && 
+			s->mix.buf.used < s->round * s->mix.bpf &&
+			!(s->pstate == SLOT_STOP)) ||
+		    ((s->mode & MODE_RECMASK) &&
+			s->sub.buf.len - s->sub.buf.used <
+			s->round * s->sub.bpf)) {
+
+#ifdef DEBUG
+			if (log_level >= 3) {
+				slot_log(s);
+				log_puts(": xrun, pause cycle\n");
 			}
-			if (s->xrun == XRUN_ERROR) {
+#endif
+			if (s->xrun == XRUN_IGNORE) {
+				s->delta -= s->round;
+				ps = &s->next;
+			} else if (s->xrun == XRUN_SYNC) {
+				s->skip++;
+				ps = &s->next;
+			} else if (s->xrun == XRUN_ERROR) {
 				s->ops->exit(s->arg);
 				*ps = s->next;
-				continue;
+			} else {
+#ifdef DEBUG
+				slot_log(s);
+				log_puts(": bad xrun mode\n");
+				panic();
+#endif
+			}
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (s->mode & MODE_PLAY) {
+			dev_mix_badd(d, s);
+			if (s->pstate != SLOT_STOP)
+				s->ops->fill(s->arg);
+		}
+		if (s->mode & MODE_RECMASK) {
+			if (s->sub.prime == 0) {
+				dev_sub_bcopy(d, s);
+				s->ops->flush(s->arg);
+			} else {
+#ifdef DEBUG
+				slot_log(s);
+				log_puts(": prime = ");
+				log_puti(s->sub.prime);
+				log_puts("\n");
+#endif
+				s->sub.prime--;
 			}
-		} else {
-			dev_sub_bcopy(d, s);
-			s->ops->flush(s->arg);
 		}
 		ps = &s->next;
 	}
+	if ((d->mode & MODE_PLAY) && d->encbuf) {
+		enc_do(&d->enc, (unsigned char *)DEV_PBUF(d),
+		    d->encbuf, d->round);
+	}
 }
 
 /*
@@ -995,10 +972,7 @@ dev_cycle(struct dev *d)
 		d->prime -= d->round;
 		dev_empty_cycle(d);
 	} else {
-		if (d->mode & MODE_RECMASK)
-			dev_sub_cycle(d);
-		if (d->mode & MODE_PLAY)
-			dev_mix_cycle(d);
+		dev_full_cycle(d);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1715,6 +1689,7 @@ slot_attach(struct slot *s)
 #endif
 	s->next = d->slot_list;
 	d->slot_list = s;
+	s->skip = 0;
 	if (s->mode & MODE_PLAY) {
 		slot_nch = s->mix.slot_cmax - s->mix.slot_cmin + 1;
 		dev_nch = s->mix.dev_cmax - s->mix.dev_cmin + 1;
@@ -1744,7 +1719,6 @@ slot_attach(struct slot *s)
 			s->mix.resampbuf =
 			    xmalloc(d->round * slot_nch * sizeof(adata_t));
 		}
-		s->mix.drop = 0;
 		s->mix.vol = MIDI_TO_ADATA(s->vol);
 		dev_mix_adjvol(d);
 	}
@@ -1781,7 +1755,7 @@ slot_attach(struct slot *s)
 		/*
 		 * N-th recorded block is the N-th played block
 		 */
-		s->sub.silence = startpos / (int)s->round;
+		s->sub.prime = -startpos / (int)s->round;
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1960,6 +1934,27 @@ slot_stop(struct slot *s)
 		s->tstate = MMC_STOP;
 }
 
+void
+slot_skip_update(struct slot *s)
+{
+	int skip;
+
+	skip = slot_skip(s);
+	while (skip > 0) {
+#ifdef DEBUG
+		if (log_level >= 4) {
+			slot_log(s);
+			log_puts(": catching skipped block\n");
+		}
+#endif
+		if (s->mode & MODE_RECMASK)
+			s->ops->flush(s->arg);
+		if (s->mode & MODE_PLAY)
+			s->ops->fill(s->arg);
+		skip--;
+	}
+}
+
 /*
  * notify the slot that we just wrote in the play buffer, must be called
  * after each write
@@ -1967,8 +1962,6 @@ slot_stop(struct slot *s)
 void
 slot_write(struct slot *s)
 {
-	int drop;
-
 	if (s->pstate == SLOT_START && s->mix.buf.used == s->mix.buf.len) {
 #ifdef DEBUG
 		if (log_level >= 4) {
@@ -1979,18 +1972,7 @@ slot_write(struct slot *s)
 		s->pstate = SLOT_READY;
 		slot_ready(s);
 	}
-	drop = s->mix.drop;
-	slot_mix_drop(s);
-	while (drop > s->mix.drop) {
-#ifdef DEBUG
-		if (log_level >= 4) {
-			slot_log(s);
-			log_puts(": catching play block\n");
-		}
-#endif
-		s->ops->fill(s->arg);
-		drop--;
-	}
+	slot_skip_update(s);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -1999,18 +1981,5 @@ slot_write(struct slot *s)
 void
 slot_read(struct slot *s)
 {
-	int sil;
-
-	sil = s->sub.silence;
-	slot_sub_sil(s);
-	while (sil > s->sub.silence) {
-#ifdef DEBUG
-		if (log_level >= 4) {
-			slot_log(s);
-			log_puts(": catching rec block\n");
-		}
-#endif
-		s->ops->flush(s->arg);
-		sil--;
-	}
+	slot_skip_update(s);
 }
diff --git a/sndiod/dev.h b/sndiod/dev.h
index c5f52b8..ea02737 100644
--- a/sndiod/dev.h
+++ b/sndiod/dev.h
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ struct slot {
 		int weight;			/* dynamic range */	
 		int maxweight;			/* max dynamic range allowed */
 		unsigned int vol;		/* volume within the vol */
-		int drop;			/* to drop on next read */
 		struct abuf buf;		/* socket side buffer */
 		int bpf;			/* byte per frame */
 		int slot_cmin, slot_cmax;	/* slot source chans */
@@ -61,8 +60,8 @@ struct slot {
 		void *resampbuf, *decbuf;	/* tmp buffers */
 	} mix;
 	struct {
-		int silence;			/* to add on next write */
 		struct abuf buf;		/* socket side buffer */
+		int prime;			/* initial cycles to skip */
 		int bpf;			/* byte per frame */
 		int slot_cmin, slot_cmax;	/* slot destination chans */
 		int dev_cmin, dev_cmax;		/* device source chans */
@@ -74,6 +73,7 @@ struct slot {
 		void *resampbuf, *encbuf;	/* tmp buffers */
 	} sub;
 	int xrun;				/* underrun policy */
+	int skip;				/* cycles to skip (for xrun) */
 	int dup;				/* mono-to-stereo and alike */
 #define SLOT_BUFSZ(s) \
 	((s)->appbufsz + (s)->dev->bufsz / (s)->dev->round * (s)->round)