diff --git a/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp b/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp
index f5077c118b..7b5feb99d8 100644
--- a/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp
+++ b/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp
@@ -1398,8 +1398,8 @@ qint64 AudioClient::AudioOutputIODevice::readData(char * data, qint64 maxSize) {
         bytesWritten = maxSize;
     }
 
-    int bytesAudioOutputUnplayed = _audio->_audioOutput->bufferSize() - _audio->_audioOutput->bytesFree();
-    if (!bytesAudioOutputUnplayed) {
+    bool wasBufferStarved = _audio->_audioOutput->bufferSize() == _audio->_audioOutput->bytesFree();
+    if (wasBufferStarved) {
         _unfulfilledReads++;
     }