diff --git a/src/filter/Filter.hxx b/src/filter/Filter.hxx
index 9174076e1..7196cc2d8 100644
--- a/src/filter/Filter.hxx
+++ b/src/filter/Filter.hxx
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public:
 	 * @param src the input buffer
 	 * @return the output buffer (will be invalidated by deleting
 	 * this object or any call to Reset(), FilterPCM() or
-	 * Flush())
+	 * Flush()); may be empty if no output is currently available
 	 */
 	virtual std::span<const std::byte> FilterPCM(std::span<const std::byte> src) = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/filter/plugins/TwoFilters.cxx b/src/filter/plugins/TwoFilters.cxx
index 2ffcae1ad..ee67d9073 100644
--- a/src/filter/plugins/TwoFilters.cxx
+++ b/src/filter/plugins/TwoFilters.cxx
@@ -10,7 +10,14 @@
 std::span<const std::byte>
 TwoFilters::FilterPCM(std::span<const std::byte> src)
 {
-	return second->FilterPCM(first->FilterPCM(src));
+	if (const auto dest = first->FilterPCM(src); dest.empty()) [[unlikely]]
+		/* no output from the first filter; pass the empty
+                   buffer on, do not call the second filter */
+		return dest;
+	else
+		/* pass output from the first filter to the second
+                   filter and return its result */
+		return second->FilterPCM(dest);
 }
 
 std::span<const std::byte>