diff --git a/src/tools/midifile.c b/src/tools/midifile.c
index 30457c515..feff133c7 100644
--- a/src/tools/midifile.c
+++ b/src/tools/midifile.c
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ static int peek_event(struct midi_file *mf, struct midi_track *tr, struct midi_e
 		return res < 0 ? res : -EIO;
 
 	event->track = tr;
-	event->tick = tr->tick;
+	event->sec = mf->tick_sec + ((tr->tick - mf->tick_start) * (double)mf->tempo) / (1000000.0 * mf->division);
 	start = event->offset = tr->offset;
 
 	status = buffer[0];
@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@ static int peek_event(struct midi_file *mf, struct midi_track *tr, struct midi_e
 				if ((res = mf->events->read(mf->data, tr->start + tr->offset, buffer, 3)) != 3)
 					return res < 0 ? res : -EIO;
 
+				mf->tick_sec = event->sec;
+				mf->tick_start = tr->tick;
 				mf->tempo = (buffer[0]<<16) | (buffer[1]<<8) | buffer[2];
 				break;
 			}
diff --git a/src/tools/midifile.h b/src/tools/midifile.h
index 8c600383e..782332507 100644
--- a/src/tools/midifile.h
+++ b/src/tools/midifile.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ struct midi_event {
 
 	struct midi_track *track;
 
-	int64_t tick;
+	double sec;
 	uint8_t status;
 	uint8_t meta;
 	uint32_t offset;
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ struct midi_file {
 
 	uint32_t offset;
 	int64_t tick;
+	double tick_sec;
+	double tick_start;
 
 	const struct midi_events *events;
 	void *data;
diff --git a/src/tools/pw-cat.c b/src/tools/pw-cat.c
index ae361bdf5..46107d887 100644
--- a/src/tools/pw-cat.c
+++ b/src/tools/pw-cat.c
@@ -989,8 +989,10 @@ static int midi_play(struct data *d, void *src, unsigned int n_frames)
 		if (res < 0)
 			return res;
 
-		frame = ev.tick * ((double)d->position->clock.rate.denom * d->md.file.tempo) /
-			(1000000.0 * d->md.file.division);
+		if (ev.status == 0xff)
+			goto next;
+
+		frame = ev.sec * d->position->clock.rate.denom;
 
 		if (frame < first_frame)
 			frame = 0;
@@ -1001,11 +1003,10 @@ static int midi_play(struct data *d, void *src, unsigned int n_frames)
 
 		spa_pod_builder_control(&b, frame, SPA_CONTROL_Midi);
 		buf[0] = ev.status;
-		if (ev.status == 0xff)
-			buf[1] = ev.meta;
-		midi_read(d, ev.offset, ev.status == 0xff ? &buf[2] : &buf[1], ev.size);
+		midi_read(d, ev.offset, &buf[1], ev.size);
 		spa_pod_builder_bytes(&b, buf, ev.size + 1);
 
+next:
 		midi_file_consume_event(&d->md.file, &ev);
 	}
 	spa_pod_builder_pop(&b, &f);