diff --git a/src/output_control.c b/src/output_control.c
index 161404f78..371730ef2 100644
--- a/src/output_control.c
+++ b/src/output_control.c
@@ -47,14 +47,6 @@ static void ao_command_wait(struct audio_output *ao)
 	}
 }
 
-static void ao_command(struct audio_output *ao, enum audio_output_command cmd)
-{
-	assert(ao->command == AO_COMMAND_NONE);
-	ao->command = cmd;
-	g_cond_signal(ao->cond);
-	ao_command_wait(ao);
-}
-
 static void ao_command_async(struct audio_output *ao,
 			     enum audio_output_command cmd)
 {
@@ -63,6 +55,13 @@ static void ao_command_async(struct audio_output *ao,
 	g_cond_signal(ao->cond);
 }
 
+static void
+ao_command(struct audio_output *ao, enum audio_output_command cmd)
+{
+	ao_command_async(ao, cmd);
+	ao_command_wait(ao);
+}
+
 void
 audio_output_enable(struct audio_output *ao)
 {