diff --git a/src/audio/alsa/SDL_alsa_audio.c b/src/audio/alsa/SDL_alsa_audio.c
index a043ffe9c..68a72d2e5 100644
--- a/src/audio/alsa/SDL_alsa_audio.c
+++ b/src/audio/alsa/SDL_alsa_audio.c
@@ -330,20 +330,7 @@ ALSA_PlayDevice(_THIS)
     this->hidden->swizzle_func(this, this->hidden->mixbuf, frames_left);
 
     while ( frames_left > 0 && SDL_AtomicGet(&this->enabled) ) {
-        int status;
-
-        /* This wait is a work-around for a hang when USB devices are
-           unplugged.  Normally it should not result in any waiting,
-           but in the case of a USB unplug, it serves as a way to
-           join the playback thread after the timeout occurs */
-        status = ALSA_snd_pcm_wait(this->hidden->pcm_handle, 1000);
-        if (status == 0) {
-            /*fprintf(stderr, "ALSA timeout waiting for available buffer space\n");*/
-            SDL_OpenedAudioDeviceDisconnected(this);
-            return;
-        }
-
-        status = ALSA_snd_pcm_writei(this->hidden->pcm_handle,
+        int status = ALSA_snd_pcm_writei(this->hidden->pcm_handle,
                                          sample_buf, frames_left);
 
         if (status < 0) {