diff --git a/src/decoder_control.c b/src/decoder_control.c
index 9844b6918..b3092f773 100644
--- a/src/decoder_control.c
+++ b/src/decoder_control.c
@@ -93,16 +93,6 @@ dc_start(struct decoder_control *dc, struct song *song)
 	dc_command(dc, DECODE_COMMAND_START);
 }
 
-void
-dc_start_async(struct decoder_control *dc, struct song *song)
-{
-	assert(dc->pipe != NULL);
-	assert(song != NULL);
-
-	dc->next_song = song;
-	dc_command_async(dc, DECODE_COMMAND_START);
-}
-
 void
 dc_stop(struct decoder_control *dc)
 {
diff --git a/src/decoder_control.h b/src/decoder_control.h
index a4a6e266c..f3bd26d53 100644
--- a/src/decoder_control.h
+++ b/src/decoder_control.h
@@ -211,9 +211,6 @@ dc_command_wait(struct decoder_control *dc);
 void
 dc_start(struct decoder_control *dc, struct song *song);
 
-void
-dc_start_async(struct decoder_control *dc, struct song *song);
-
 void
 dc_stop(struct decoder_control *dc);
 
diff --git a/src/player_thread.c b/src/player_thread.c
index 32d35f309..e8470c827 100644
--- a/src/player_thread.c
+++ b/src/player_thread.c
@@ -159,8 +159,6 @@ player_wait_for_decoder(struct player *player)
 {
 	struct decoder_control *dc = player->dc;
 
-	dc_command_wait(dc);
-
 	if (decoder_lock_has_failed(dc)) {
 		assert(dc->next_song == NULL || dc->next_song->uri != NULL);
 
@@ -331,7 +329,7 @@ static bool player_seek_decoder(struct player *player)
 		dc->pipe = player->pipe;
 
 		/* re-start the decoder */
-		dc_start_async(dc, pc.next_song);
+		dc_start(dc, pc.next_song);
 		ret = player_wait_for_decoder(player);
 		if (!ret) {
 			/* decoder failure */
@@ -793,7 +791,7 @@ static void do_play(struct decoder_control *dc)
 
 			player.queued = false;
 			dc->pipe = music_pipe_new();
-			dc_start_async(dc, pc.next_song);
+			dc_start(dc, pc.next_song);
 		}
 
 		if (dc->pipe != NULL && dc->pipe != player.pipe &&