diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 1d066d290..542cd5d04 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ ver 0.21.11 (not yet released)
   - wildmidi: log error if library initialization fails
 * output
   - alsa: fix busy loop while draining
+  - alsa: fix missing drain call
   - alsa, osx: fix distortions with DSD_U32 and DoP on 32 bit CPUs
 * protocol
   - fix "list" with multiple "group" levels
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/AlsaOutputPlugin.cxx b/src/output/plugins/AlsaOutputPlugin.cxx
index eefb7f467..16832a1bc 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/AlsaOutputPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/AlsaOutputPlugin.cxx
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ AlsaOutput::DrainInternal()
 		/* need to call CopyRingToPeriodBuffer() and
 		   WriteFromPeriodBuffer() again in the next
 		   iteration, so don't finish the drain just yet */
-		return period_buffer.IsEmpty();
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	if (!written)