diff --git a/sound/core/timer.c b/sound/core/timer.c
index e722022d325d..9a6157ea6881 100644
--- a/sound/core/timer.c
+++ b/sound/core/timer.c
@@ -1955,6 +1955,7 @@ static ssize_t snd_timer_user_read(struct file *file, char __user *buffer,
 
 		qhead = tu->qhead++;
 		tu->qhead %= tu->queue_size;
+		tu->qused--;
 		spin_unlock_irq(&tu->qlock);
 
 		if (tu->tread) {
@@ -1968,7 +1969,6 @@ static ssize_t snd_timer_user_read(struct file *file, char __user *buffer,
 		}
 
 		spin_lock_irq(&tu->qlock);
-		tu->qused--;
 		if (err < 0)
 			goto _error;
 		result += unit;