diff --git a/libraries/lib-audio-io/AudioIO.cpp b/libraries/lib-audio-io/AudioIO.cpp
index 9e403353ac32..c237d9e4e996 100644
--- a/libraries/lib-audio-io/AudioIO.cpp
+++ b/libraries/lib-audio-io/AudioIO.cpp
@@ -2013,8 +2013,10 @@ bool AudioIO::ProcessPlaybackSlices(
    bool progress = false;
    size_t allProduced = 0;
    do {
-      const auto slice =
-         policy.GetPlaybackSlice(mPlaybackSchedule, available);
+      const bool paused = IsPaused();
+      const auto slice = paused
+         ? PlaybackSlice{ available, available, 0 } // produce all zeroes
+         : policy.GetPlaybackSlice(mPlaybackSchedule, available);
       const auto &[frames, toProduce] = slice;
       progress = progress || toProduce > 0;
 
@@ -2058,8 +2060,9 @@ bool AudioIO::ProcessPlaybackSlices(
       available -= frames;
       // wxASSERT(available >= 0); // don't assert on this thread
 
-      done = policy.RepositionPlayback( mPlaybackSchedule, mPlaybackMixers,
-         frames, available );
+      done = !paused &&
+         policy.RepositionPlayback( mPlaybackSchedule, mPlaybackMixers,
+            frames, available );
    } while (available && !done);
 
    // Do any realtime effect processing, more efficiently in at most
@@ -3120,11 +3123,6 @@ int AudioIoCallback::AudioCallback(
       framesPerBuffer,
       outputMeterFloats);
 
-   // Test for no sequence audio to play (because we are paused and have faded
-   // out)
-   if (paused && (!mbMicroFades || mOldMasterGain == 0.0f))
-      return callbackReturn;
-
    // To add sequence output to output (to play sound on speaker)
    // possible exit, if we were seeking.