diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 764dee3eb..df9be5aaf 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ noinst_LIBRARIES =
 
 src_mpd_CFLAGS = $(AM_CFLAGS) $(MPD_CFLAGS)
 src_mpd_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) \
+	$(AVAHI_CFLAGS) \
 	$(LIBWRAP_CFLAGS) \
 	$(SQLITE_CFLAGS) \
 	$(ARCHIVE_CFLAGS) \
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ src_mpd_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) \
 	$(FILTER_CFLAGS) \
 	$(OUTPUT_CFLAGS)
 src_mpd_LDADD = $(MPD_LIBS) \
+	$(AVAHI_LIBS) \
 	$(LIBWRAP_LDFLAGS) \
 	$(SQLITE_LIBS) \
 	$(ARCHIVE_LIBS) \
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 34cf90e45..c749c3156 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -21,11 +21,15 @@ ver 0.17 (2011/??/??)
 
 
 ver 0.16.4 (2011/??/??)
+* don't abort configure when avahi is not found
+* auto-detect libmad without pkg-config
 * fix memory leaks
 * don't resume playback when seeking to another song while paused
 * apply follow_inside_symlinks to absolute symlinks
+* fix playback discontinuation after seeking
 * input:
   - curl: limit the receive buffer size
+  - curl: implement a hard-coded timeout of 10 seconds
 * decoder:
   - ffmpeg: workaround for semantic API change in recent ffmpeg versions
   - flac: validate the sample rate when scanning the tag
@@ -35,6 +39,7 @@ ver 0.16.4 (2011/??/??)
 * output:
   - alsa: fix SIGFPE when alsa announces a period size of 0
   - httpd: don't warn on client disconnect
+  - osx: don't drain the buffer when closing
   - pulse: fix deadlock when resuming the stream
   - pulse: fix deadlock when the stream was suspended
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 46d592bcf..0a749842b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -186,9 +186,9 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(fifo,
 	enable_fifo=yes)
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(flac,
-	AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-flac],
-		[disable flac support (default: enable)]),,
-	enable_flac=yes)
+	AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-flac],
+		[enable FLAC decoder]),,
+	enable_flac=auto)
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(fluidsynth,
 	AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-fluidsynth],
@@ -216,9 +216,9 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(raop-output,
 	[enable_raop_output=auto])
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(id3,
-	AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-id3],
-		[disable id3 support (default: enable)]),,
-	enable_id3=yes)
+	AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-id3],
+		[disable id3 support]),,
+	enable_id3=auto)
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(inotify,
 	AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-inotify],
@@ -378,9 +378,9 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(un,
 	[enable_un=yes])
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(vorbis,
-	AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-vorbis],
-		[disable Ogg Vorbis support (default: enable)]),,
-	enable_vorbis=yes)
+	AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-vorbis],
+		[enable Ogg Vorbis decoder]),,
+	enable_vorbis=auto)
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(vorbis-encoder,
 	AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-vorbis-encoder],
@@ -535,13 +535,8 @@ fi
 AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_CUE, test x$enable_cue = xyes)
 
 dnl -------------------------------- libid3tag --------------------------------
-if test x$enable_id3 = xyes; then
-	PKG_CHECK_MODULES([ID3TAG], [id3tag],,
-		AC_CHECK_LIB(id3tag, id3_file_open,
-			[ID3TAG_LIBS="-lid3tag -lz" ID3TAG_CFLAGS=""],
-			enable_id3=no))
-fi
-
+MPD_AUTO_PKG_LIB(id3, ID3TAG, id3tag, id3tag, id3_file_open, [-lid3tag -lz], [],
+	[id3tag], [libid3tag not found])
 if test x$enable_id3 = xyes; then
 	AC_DEFINE(HAVE_ID3TAG, 1, [Define to use id3tag])
 fi
@@ -555,28 +550,31 @@ dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 dnl --------------------------------- zeroconf --------------------------------
 
 case $with_zeroconf in
-no|avahi|bonjour)
+no|bonjour)
+	enable_avahi=no
 	;;
+
+avahi)
+	enable_avahi=yes
+	;;
+
 *)
 	with_zeroconf=auto
+	enable_avahi=auto
 	;;
 esac
 
-enable_avahi=no
+MPD_AUTO_PKG(avahi, AVAHI, [avahi-client avahi-glib],
+	[avahi client library], [avahi client+glib not found])
+if test x$enable_avahi = xyes; then
+	AC_DEFINE([HAVE_AVAHI], 1, [Define to enable Avahi Zeroconf support])
+	with_zeroconf=avahi
+fi
+
+AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_AVAHI, test x$enable_avahi = xyes)
+
 enable_bounjour=no
 if test x$with_zeroconf != xno; then
-	if test x$with_zeroconf = xavahi || test x$with_zeroconf = xauto; then
-		PKG_CHECK_MODULES([AVAHI], [avahi-client avahi-glib],
-			 [enable_avahi=yes;AC_DEFINE([HAVE_AVAHI], 1, [Define to enable Avahi Zeroconf support])]
-			 MPD_LIBS="$MPD_LIBS $AVAHI_LIBS" MPD_CFLAGS="$MPD_CFLAGS $AVAHI_CFLAGS")
-	fi
-
-	if test x$enable_avahi = xyes; then
-		with_zeroconf=avahi
-	elif test x$with_zeroconf = xavahi; then
-		AC_MSG_ERROR([Avahi support requested but not found])
-	fi
-
 	if test x$with_zeroconf = xbonjour || test x$with_zeroconf = xauto; then
 		AC_CHECK_HEADER(dns_sd.h,
 			[enable_bonjour=yes;AC_DEFINE([HAVE_BONJOUR], 1, [Define to enable Bonjour Zeroconf support])])
@@ -599,7 +597,6 @@ if test x$with_zeroconf != xno; then
 fi
 
 AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_ZEROCONF, test x$with_zeroconf != xno)
-AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_AVAHI, test x$with_zeroconf = xavahi)
 AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_BONJOUR, test x$with_zeroconf = xbonjour)
 
 dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -686,11 +683,6 @@ fi
 
 AM_CONDITIONAL(ENABLE_CDIO_PARANOIA, test x$enable_cdio_paranoia = xyes)
 
-dnl ---------------------------------- libogg ---------------------------------
-if test x$with_tremor = xno || test -z $with_tremor; then
-	PKG_CHECK_MODULES(OGG, [ogg], enable_ogg=yes, enable_ogg=no)
-fi
-
 dnl ---------------------------------- libmms ---------------------------------
 MPD_AUTO_PKG(mms, MMS, [libmms >= 0.4],
 	[libmms mms:// protocol support], [libmms not found])
@@ -794,10 +786,12 @@ fi
 AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_FFMPEG, test x$enable_ffmpeg = xyes)
 
 dnl ----------------------------------- FLAC ----------------------------------
+
+MPD_AUTO_PKG(flac, FLAC, [flac >= 1.1],
+	[FLAC decoder], [libFLAC not found])
+
 if test x$enable_flac = xyes; then
-	PKG_CHECK_MODULES(FLAC, [flac >= 1.1],
-		AC_DEFINE(HAVE_FLAC, 1, [Define for FLAC support]),
-		enable_flac=no)
+	AC_DEFINE(HAVE_FLAC, 1, [Define for FLAC support])
 
 	oldcflags="$CFLAGS"
 	oldlibs="$LIBS"
@@ -812,12 +806,10 @@ if test x$enable_flac = xyes; then
 	LIBS="$oldlibs"
 
 	if test x$enable_oggflac = xflac; then
-		if test x$enable_ogg = xyes; then
-			FLAC_LIBS="${FLAC_LIBS} -logg"
-		else
-			enable_oggflac=yes
-			AC_MSG_WARN("FLAC has the ogg API built in, but couldn't find ogg. Disabling oggflac.")
-		fi
+		PKG_CHECK_MODULES(OGG, [ogg],
+			[FLAC_LIBS="${FLAC_LIBS} ${OGG_LIBS}" FLAC_CFLAGS="${FLAC_CFLAGS} ${OGG_CFLAGS}"],
+			[enable_oggflac=yes;
+			AC_MSG_WARN("FLAC has the ogg API built in, but couldn't find ogg. Disabling oggflac.")])
 	fi
 fi
 
@@ -843,7 +835,8 @@ if test x$enable_gme = xyes; then
 fi
 
 dnl ---------------------------------- libmad ---------------------------------
-MPD_AUTO_PKG(mad, MAD, [mad],
+MPD_AUTO_PKG_LIB(mad, MAD, [mad],
+	mad, mad_stream_init, [-lmad], [],
 	[libmad MP3 decoder plugin], [libmad not found])
 if test x$enable_mad = xyes; then
 	AC_DEFINE(HAVE_MAD, 1, [Define to use libmad])
@@ -984,7 +977,7 @@ fi
 if test x$enable_tremor = xyes; then
 	AC_DEFINE(HAVE_TREMOR,1,
 		[Define to use tremor (libvorbisidec) for ogg support])
-	AC_DEFINE(ENABLE_VORBIS_DECODER, 1, [Define for Ogg Vorbis support]),
+	AC_DEFINE(ENABLE_VORBIS_DECODER, 1, [Define for Ogg Vorbis support])
 else
 	TREMOR_CFLAGS=
 	TREMOR_LIBS=
@@ -1013,18 +1006,18 @@ fi
 AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_OGGFLAC, test x$enable_oggflac = xyes)
 
 dnl -------------------------------- Ogg Vorbis -------------------------------
-if test x$enable_vorbis = xyes; then
-	if test x$enable_tremor = xyes; then
+
+if test x$enable_tremor = xyes; then
+	if test x$enable_vorbis = xyes; then
 		AC_MSG_WARN(["OggTremor detected, could not enable Vorbis."])
-		enable_vorbis=no
-	elif test x$enable_ogg = xyes; then
-		PKG_CHECK_MODULES(VORBIS, [vorbis vorbisfile],
-			AC_DEFINE(ENABLE_VORBIS_DECODER, 1, [Define for Ogg Vorbis support]),
-			enable_vorbis=no)
-	else
-		AC_MSG_WARN(["Ogg not detected, could not enable Vorbis."])
-		enable_vorbis=no
 	fi
+	enable_vorbis=no
+fi
+
+MPD_AUTO_PKG(vorbis, VORBIS, [vorbis vorbisfile ogg],
+	[Ogg Vorbis decoder], [libvorbis not found])
+if test x$enable_vorbis = xyes; then
+	AC_DEFINE(ENABLE_VORBIS_DECODER, 1, [Define for Ogg Vorbis support])
 fi
 
 AM_CONDITIONAL(ENABLE_VORBIS_DECODER, test x$enable_vorbis = xyes || test x$enable_tremor = xyes)
diff --git a/doc/developer.xml b/doc/developer.xml
index c63e2c265..010b85064 100644
--- a/doc/developer.xml
+++ b/doc/developer.xml
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
           Some example code:
         </para>
 
-        <programlisting lang="C">static inline bool
+        <programlisting lang="C">static inline int
 foo(const char *abc, int xyz)
 {
         if (abc == NULL) {
diff --git a/m4/mpd_auto.m4 b/m4/mpd_auto.m4
index 3f233938f..23713d5b7 100644
--- a/m4/mpd_auto.m4
+++ b/m4/mpd_auto.m4
@@ -63,3 +63,18 @@ AC_DEFUN([MPD_AUTO_PKG], [
 
 	MPD_AUTO_RESULT([$1], [$4], [$5])
 ])
+
+dnl Check with pkg-config first, fall back to AC_CHECK_LIB.
+dnl
+dnl Parameters: varname1, varname2, pkgname, libname, symname, libs, cflags, description, errmsg
+AC_DEFUN([MPD_AUTO_PKG_LIB], [
+	if eval "test x`echo '$'enable_$1` != xno"; then
+		PKG_CHECK_MODULES([$2], [$3],
+			[eval "found_$1=yes"],
+			AC_CHECK_LIB($4, $5,
+				[eval "found_$1=yes $2_LIBS='$6' $2_CFLAGS='$7'"],
+				[eval "found_$1=no"]))
+	fi
+
+	MPD_AUTO_RESULT([$1], [$8], [$9])
+])
diff --git a/scripts/makedist.sh b/scripts/makedist.sh
index d342cea3a..7f8624d8f 100755
--- a/scripts/makedist.sh
+++ b/scripts/makedist.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ PWD=`pwd`
 
 ## If we're not in the scripts directory
 ## assume the base directory.
-if test "`basename $PWD`" == "scripts"; then
+if test "`basename $PWD`" = "scripts"; then
 	cd ../
 else
 	MYOLDPWD=`pwd`
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ fi
 make
 make dist
 
-if test "`basename $PWD`" == "scripts"; then
+if test "`basename $PWD`" = "scripts"; then
 	cd contrib/
 else
 	cd $MYOLDPWD
diff --git a/src/input/curl_input_plugin.c b/src/input/curl_input_plugin.c
index 54c6d2f18..a591c9272 100644
--- a/src/input/curl_input_plugin.c
+++ b/src/input/curl_input_plugin.c
@@ -1124,6 +1124,9 @@ input_curl_easy_init(struct input_curl *c, GError **error_r)
 	curl_easy_setopt(c->easy, CURLOPT_MAXREDIRS, 5);
 	curl_easy_setopt(c->easy, CURLOPT_FAILONERROR, true);
 	curl_easy_setopt(c->easy, CURLOPT_ERRORBUFFER, c->error);
+	curl_easy_setopt(c->easy, CURLOPT_NOPROGRESS, 1l);
+	curl_easy_setopt(c->easy, CURLOPT_NOSIGNAL, 1l);
+	curl_easy_setopt(c->easy, CURLOPT_CONNECTTIMEOUT, 10l);
 
 	if (proxy != NULL)
 		curl_easy_setopt(c->easy, CURLOPT_PROXY, proxy);
diff --git a/src/output/osx_plugin.c b/src/output/osx_plugin.c
index 618cd351f..8091660ab 100644
--- a/src/output/osx_plugin.c
+++ b/src/output/osx_plugin.c
@@ -121,12 +121,6 @@ static void osx_output_close(void *data)
 {
 	struct osx_output *od = data;
 
-	g_mutex_lock(od->mutex);
-	while (od->len) {
-		g_cond_wait(od->condition, od->mutex);
-	}
-	g_mutex_unlock(od->mutex);
-
 	AudioOutputUnitStop(od->au);
 	AudioUnitUninitialize(od->au);
 	CloseComponent(od->au);
@@ -169,8 +163,8 @@ osx_render(void *vdata,
 	if (od->pos >= od->buffer_size)
 		od->pos = 0;
 
-	g_mutex_unlock(od->mutex);
 	g_cond_signal(od->condition);
+	g_mutex_unlock(od->mutex);
 
 	buffer->mDataByteSize = buffer_size;
 
diff --git a/src/output/pulse_output_plugin.c b/src/output/pulse_output_plugin.c
index 9fb0b3ade..9825785ee 100644
--- a/src/output/pulse_output_plugin.c
+++ b/src/output/pulse_output_plugin.c
@@ -224,6 +224,44 @@ pulse_output_connect(struct pulse_output *po, GError **error_r)
 	return true;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Frees and clears the stream.
+ */
+static void
+pulse_output_delete_stream(struct pulse_output *po)
+{
+	assert(po != NULL);
+	assert(po->stream != NULL);
+
+#if PA_CHECK_VERSION(0,9,8)
+	pa_stream_set_suspended_callback(po->stream, NULL, NULL);
+#endif
+
+	pa_stream_set_state_callback(po->stream, NULL, NULL);
+	pa_stream_set_write_callback(po->stream, NULL, NULL);
+
+	pa_stream_disconnect(po->stream);
+	pa_stream_unref(po->stream);
+	po->stream = NULL;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Frees and clears the context.
+ */
+static void
+pulse_output_delete_context(struct pulse_output *po)
+{
+	assert(po != NULL);
+	assert(po->context != NULL);
+
+	pa_context_set_state_callback(po->context, NULL, NULL);
+	pa_context_set_subscribe_callback(po->context, NULL, NULL);
+
+	pa_context_disconnect(po->context);
+	pa_context_unref(po->context);
+	po->context = NULL;
+}
+
 /**
  * Create, set up and connect a context.
  *
@@ -249,28 +287,13 @@ pulse_output_setup_context(struct pulse_output *po, GError **error_r)
 					  pulse_output_subscribe_cb, po);
 
 	if (!pulse_output_connect(po, error_r)) {
-		pa_context_unref(po->context);
-		po->context = NULL;
+		pulse_output_delete_context(po);
 		return false;
 	}
 
 	return true;
 }
 
-/**
- * Frees and clears the context.
- */
-static void
-pulse_output_delete_context(struct pulse_output *po)
-{
-	assert(po != NULL);
-	assert(po->context != NULL);
-
-	pa_context_disconnect(po->context);
-	pa_context_unref(po->context);
-	po->context = NULL;
-}
-
 static void *
 pulse_output_init(G_GNUC_UNUSED const struct audio_format *audio_format,
 		  const struct config_param *param,
@@ -540,8 +563,7 @@ pulse_output_open(void *data, struct audio_format *audio_format,
 	error = pa_stream_connect_playback(po->stream, po->sink,
 					   NULL, 0, NULL, NULL);
 	if (error < 0) {
-		pa_stream_unref(po->stream);
-		po->stream = NULL;
+		pulse_output_delete_stream(po);
 
 		g_set_error(error_r, pulse_output_quark(), 0,
 			    "pa_stream_connect_playback() has failed: %s",
@@ -579,9 +601,7 @@ pulse_output_close(void *data)
 			pulse_wait_for_operation(po->mainloop, o);
 	}
 
-	pa_stream_disconnect(po->stream);
-	pa_stream_unref(po->stream);
-	po->stream = NULL;
+	pulse_output_delete_stream(po);
 
 	if (po->context != NULL &&
 	    pa_context_get_state(po->context) != PA_CONTEXT_READY)
diff --git a/src/output_all.c b/src/output_all.c
index bd7c48c92..7f4694a8b 100644
--- a/src/output_all.c
+++ b/src/output_all.c
@@ -206,27 +206,14 @@ static void audio_output_wait_all(void)
 		notify_wait(&audio_output_client_notify);
 }
 
-/**
- * Signals the audio output if it is open.  This function locks the
- * mutex.
- */
-static void
-audio_output_lock_signal(struct audio_output *ao)
-{
-	g_mutex_lock(ao->mutex);
-	if (audio_output_is_open(ao))
-		g_cond_signal(ao->cond);
-	g_mutex_unlock(ao->mutex);
-}
-
 /**
  * Signals all audio outputs which are open.
  */
 static void
-audio_output_signal_all(void)
+audio_output_allow_play_all(void)
 {
 	for (unsigned i = 0; i < num_audio_outputs; ++i)
-		audio_output_lock_signal(&audio_outputs[i]);
+		audio_output_allow_play(&audio_outputs[i]);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -531,7 +518,7 @@ audio_output_all_cancel(void)
 	/* the audio outputs are now waiting for a signal, to
 	   synchronize the cleared music pipe */
 
-	audio_output_signal_all();
+	audio_output_allow_play_all();
 
 	/* invalidate elapsed_time */
 
diff --git a/src/output_control.c b/src/output_control.c
index 22c63b822..7ddcb8b19 100644
--- a/src/output_control.c
+++ b/src/output_control.c
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@ audio_output_open(struct audio_output *ao,
 {
 	bool open;
 
+	assert(ao != NULL);
+	assert(ao->allow_play);
 	assert(audio_format_valid(audio_format));
 	assert(mp != NULL);
 
@@ -164,10 +166,6 @@ audio_output_open(struct audio_output *ao,
 			/* we're not using audio_output_cancel() here,
 			   because that function is asynchronous */
 			ao_command(ao, AO_COMMAND_CANCEL);
-
-			/* the audio output is now waiting for a
-			   signal; wake it up immediately */
-			g_cond_signal(ao->cond);
 		}
 
 		return true;
@@ -205,6 +203,7 @@ static void
 audio_output_close_locked(struct audio_output *ao)
 {
 	assert(ao != NULL);
+	assert(ao->allow_play);
 
 	if (ao->mixer != NULL)
 		mixer_auto_close(ao->mixer);
@@ -247,6 +246,8 @@ audio_output_play(struct audio_output *ao)
 {
 	g_mutex_lock(ao->mutex);
 
+	assert(ao->allow_play);
+
 	if (audio_output_is_open(ao))
 		g_cond_signal(ao->cond);
 
@@ -262,6 +263,7 @@ void audio_output_pause(struct audio_output *ao)
 		mixer_auto_close(ao->mixer);
 
 	g_mutex_lock(ao->mutex);
+	assert(ao->allow_play);
 	if (audio_output_is_open(ao))
 		ao_command_async(ao, AO_COMMAND_PAUSE);
 	g_mutex_unlock(ao->mutex);
@@ -271,6 +273,7 @@ void
 audio_output_drain_async(struct audio_output *ao)
 {
 	g_mutex_lock(ao->mutex);
+	assert(ao->allow_play);
 	if (audio_output_is_open(ao))
 		ao_command_async(ao, AO_COMMAND_DRAIN);
 	g_mutex_unlock(ao->mutex);
@@ -279,8 +282,24 @@ audio_output_drain_async(struct audio_output *ao)
 void audio_output_cancel(struct audio_output *ao)
 {
 	g_mutex_lock(ao->mutex);
-	if (audio_output_is_open(ao))
+
+	if (audio_output_is_open(ao)) {
+		ao->allow_play = false;
 		ao_command_async(ao, AO_COMMAND_CANCEL);
+	}
+
+	g_mutex_unlock(ao->mutex);
+}
+
+void
+audio_output_allow_play(struct audio_output *ao)
+{
+	g_mutex_lock(ao->mutex);
+
+	ao->allow_play = true;
+	if (audio_output_is_open(ao))
+		g_cond_signal(ao->cond);
+
 	g_mutex_unlock(ao->mutex);
 }
 
@@ -310,6 +329,7 @@ void audio_output_finish(struct audio_output *ao)
 	assert(ao->fail_timer == NULL);
 
 	if (ao->thread != NULL) {
+		assert(ao->allow_play);
 		ao_lock_command(ao, AO_COMMAND_KILL);
 		g_thread_join(ao->thread);
 		ao->thread = NULL;
diff --git a/src/output_control.h b/src/output_control.h
index 8711a6566..f58a113e6 100644
--- a/src/output_control.h
+++ b/src/output_control.h
@@ -72,8 +72,19 @@ void audio_output_pause(struct audio_output *ao);
 void
 audio_output_drain_async(struct audio_output *ao);
 
+/**
+ * Clear the "allow_play" flag and send the "CANCEL" command
+ * asynchronously.  To finish the operation, the caller has to call
+ * audio_output_allow_play().
+ */
 void audio_output_cancel(struct audio_output *ao);
 
+/**
+ * Set the "allow_play" and signal the thread.
+ */
+void
+audio_output_allow_play(struct audio_output *ao);
+
 void audio_output_close(struct audio_output *ao);
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/output_init.c b/src/output_init.c
index 107abed41..c52dcc8cd 100644
--- a/src/output_init.c
+++ b/src/output_init.c
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ audio_output_init(struct audio_output *ao, const struct config_param *param,
 	ao->really_enabled = false;
 	ao->open = false;
 	ao->pause = false;
+	ao->allow_play = true;
 	ao->fail_timer = NULL;
 
 	pcm_buffer_init(&ao->cross_fade_buffer);
diff --git a/src/output_internal.h b/src/output_internal.h
index 873ec8532..eba3aed91 100644
--- a/src/output_internal.h
+++ b/src/output_internal.h
@@ -109,6 +109,15 @@ struct audio_output {
 	 */
 	bool pause;
 
+	/**
+	 * When this flag is set, the output thread will not do any
+	 * playback.  It will wait until the flag is cleared.
+	 *
+	 * This is used to synchronize the "clear" operation on the
+	 * shared music pipe during the CANCEL command.
+	 */
+	bool allow_play;
+
 	/**
 	 * If not NULL, the device has failed, and this timer is used
 	 * to estimate how long it should stay disabled (unless
diff --git a/src/output_thread.c b/src/output_thread.c
index ec5fc5b31..c36ba5f4f 100644
--- a/src/output_thread.c
+++ b/src/output_thread.c
@@ -649,12 +649,6 @@ static gpointer audio_output_task(gpointer arg)
 			}
 
 			ao_command_finished(ao);
-
-			/* the player thread will now clear our music
-			   pipe - wait for a notify, to give it some
-			   time */
-			if (ao->command == AO_COMMAND_NONE)
-				g_cond_wait(ao->cond, ao->mutex);
 			continue;
 
 		case AO_COMMAND_KILL:
@@ -664,7 +658,7 @@ static gpointer audio_output_task(gpointer arg)
 			return NULL;
 		}
 
-		if (ao->open && ao_play(ao))
+		if (ao->open && ao->allow_play && ao_play(ao))
 			/* don't wait for an event if there are more
 			   chunks in the pipe */
 			continue;