diff --git a/sndiod/file.c b/sndiod/file.c
index b9a4625..61b472d 100644
--- a/sndiod/file.c
+++ b/sndiod/file.c
@@ -413,21 +413,21 @@ file_poll(void)
 	file_wtime += 1000000000LL * (ts.tv_sec - sleepts.tv_sec);
 	file_wtime += ts.tv_nsec - sleepts.tv_nsec;
 #endif
-	delta_nsec = 1000000000LL * (ts.tv_sec - file_ts.tv_sec);
-	delta_nsec += ts.tv_nsec - file_ts.tv_nsec;
-#ifdef DEBUG
-	if (delta_nsec < 0)
-		log_puts("file_poll: negative time interval\n");
-#endif
-	file_ts = ts;	
 	if (timo_queue) {
+		delta_nsec = 1000000000LL * (ts.tv_sec - file_ts.tv_sec);
+		delta_nsec += ts.tv_nsec - file_ts.tv_nsec;
+#ifdef DEBUG
+		if (delta_nsec < 0)
+			log_puts("file_poll: negative time interval\n");
+#endif
 		if (delta_nsec >= 0 && delta_nsec < 1000000000LL)
 			timo_update(delta_nsec / 1000);
 		else {
 			if (log_level >= 2)
-				log_puts("ignored huge clock delta\n");
+				log_puts("out-of-bounds clock delta\n");
 		}
 	}
+	file_ts = ts;	
 
 	/*
 	 * process files that rely on poll