diff --git a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm.c b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm.c
index 9449225b5..e7b859f5c 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm.c
@@ -2115,7 +2115,7 @@ int spa_alsa_read(struct state *state)
 
 	if (state->following && state->alsa_started) {
 		uint64_t current_time;
-		snd_pcm_uframes_t delay, target;
+		snd_pcm_uframes_t avail, delay, target;
 		uint32_t threshold = state->threshold;
 
 		current_time = state->position->clock.nsec;
@@ -2123,6 +2123,8 @@ int spa_alsa_read(struct state *state)
 		if ((res = get_status(state, current_time, &delay, &target)) < 0)
 			return res;
 
+		avail = delay;
+
 		if (state->alsa_sync) {
 			spa_log_warn(state->log, "%s: follower delay:%lu target:%lu thr:%u, resync",
 					state->props.device, delay, target, threshold);
@@ -2137,7 +2139,7 @@ int spa_alsa_read(struct state *state)
 		if ((res = update_time(state, current_time, delay, target, true)) < 0)
 			return res;
 
-		if (delay < state->read_size)
+		if (avail < state->read_size)
 			max_read = 0;
 	}