diff --git a/src/lib/alsa/PeriodBuffer.hxx b/src/lib/alsa/PeriodBuffer.hxx
index 803a4003a..e2068f5c9 100644
--- a/src/lib/alsa/PeriodBuffer.hxx
+++ b/src/lib/alsa/PeriodBuffer.hxx
@@ -73,6 +73,14 @@ public:
 		return tail >= capacity;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Has some data already been consumed at the buffer's head in
+	 * this period?
+	 */
+	bool WasConsumed() const noexcept {
+		return head > 0;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Returns the tail of the buffer, i.e. where new data can be
 	 * written.  Call GetSpaceBytes() to find out how much may be
@@ -163,10 +171,6 @@ public:
 		ConsumeBytes(n * frame_size);
 	}
 
-	snd_pcm_uframes_t GetPeriodPosition(size_t frame_size) const noexcept {
-		return head / frame_size;
-	}
-
 	void Rewind() noexcept {
 		head = 0;
 	}
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/AlsaOutputPlugin.cxx b/src/output/plugins/AlsaOutputPlugin.cxx
index d32213c68..718e0ac66 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/AlsaOutputPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/AlsaOutputPlugin.cxx
@@ -746,8 +746,7 @@ AlsaOutput::DrainInternal()
 	/* drain ring_buffer */
 	CopyRingToPeriodBuffer();
 
-	auto period_position = period_buffer.GetPeriodPosition(out_frame_size);
-	if (period_position > 0)
+	if (period_buffer.WasConsumed())
 		/* generate some silence to finish the partial
 		   period */
 		period_buffer.FillWithSilence(silence, out_frame_size);