diff --git a/src/modules/module-alsa-sink.c b/src/modules/module-alsa-sink.c
index f1031b68b..5546657be 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-alsa-sink.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-alsa-sink.c
@@ -527,7 +527,8 @@ static void thread_func(void *userdata) {
 
     pa_log_debug("Thread starting up");
 
-    pa_make_realtime();
+    if (u->core->high_priority)
+        pa_make_realtime();
 
     pa_thread_mq_install(&u->thread_mq);
     
diff --git a/src/modules/module-alsa-source.c b/src/modules/module-alsa-source.c
index a1de2f2e5..58e7cb4a8 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-alsa-source.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-alsa-source.c
@@ -516,7 +516,8 @@ static void thread_func(void *userdata) {
 
     pa_log_debug("Thread starting up");
 
-    pa_make_realtime();
+    if (u->core->high_priority)
+        pa_make_realtime();
 
     pa_thread_mq_install(&u->thread_mq);
     
diff --git a/src/modules/module-oss.c b/src/modules/module-oss.c
index 346ccbd53..f44548132 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-oss.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-oss.c
@@ -791,7 +791,8 @@ static void thread_func(void *userdata) {
 
     pa_log_debug("Thread starting up");
 
-    pa_make_realtime();
+    if (u->core->high_priority)
+        pa_make_realtime();
 
     pa_thread_mq_install(&u->thread_mq);