diff --git a/src/audio/alsa/SDL_alsa_audio.c b/src/audio/alsa/SDL_alsa_audio.c
index 308eb23593..badbc43ec8 100644
--- a/src/audio/alsa/SDL_alsa_audio.c
+++ b/src/audio/alsa/SDL_alsa_audio.c
@@ -1187,7 +1187,6 @@ static bool ALSA_OpenDevice(SDL_AudioDevice *device)
         ALSA_snd_pcm_nonblock(cfg_ctx.device->hidden->pcm, 0);
     }
 #endif
-    ALSA_snd_pcm_start(cfg_ctx.device->hidden->pcm);
     return true;  // We're ready to rock and roll. :-)
 
 err_cleanup_ctx:
@@ -1200,6 +1199,13 @@ err_free_device_hidden:
     return false;
 }
 
+static void ALSA_ThreadInit(SDL_AudioDevice *device)
+{
+    SDL_SetCurrentThreadPriority(device->recording ? SDL_THREAD_PRIORITY_HIGH : SDL_THREAD_PRIORITY_TIME_CRITICAL);
+    // do snd_pcm_start as close to the first time we PlayDevice as possible to prevent an underrun at startup.
+    ALSA_snd_pcm_start(device->hidden->pcm);
+}
+
 static ALSA_Device *hotplug_devices = NULL;
 
 static int hotplug_device_process(snd_ctl_t *ctl, snd_ctl_card_info_t *ctl_card_info, int dev_idx,
@@ -1497,6 +1503,7 @@ static bool ALSA_Init(SDL_AudioDriverImpl *impl)
 
     impl->DetectDevices = ALSA_DetectDevices;
     impl->OpenDevice = ALSA_OpenDevice;
+    impl->ThreadInit = ALSA_ThreadInit;
     impl->WaitDevice = ALSA_WaitDevice;
     impl->GetDeviceBuf = ALSA_GetDeviceBuf;
     impl->PlayDevice = ALSA_PlayDevice;