diff --git a/src/cpuexec.c b/src/cpuexec.c
index ff2b620c6..8940ed65a 100644
--- a/src/cpuexec.c
+++ b/src/cpuexec.c
@@ -985,7 +985,7 @@ static void cpu_timeslice(void)
 				// We are ahead by a large amount: realign external clock
 				time_fence_global_offset = now - options.time_fence;
 			}
-			else if (time_fence_wait(1.0))
+			else if (time_fence_wait(0.250))
 			{
 				// We waited and received a new time fence, but if we are still ahead of it, just return
 				if (now - options.time_fence - time_fence_global_offset >= 0.)
@@ -994,9 +994,11 @@ static void cpu_timeslice(void)
 			else
 			{
 				// We waited and did not receive a new time fence, but timed out or just received an OS message, then just return
+				mame_pause(1); // we timed-out to get there, so we are stuck waiting for master clock: suspend sound (buffer would loop) and give user feedback (dimmed rendering)
 				return;
 			}
 		}
+		mame_pause(0);
 	}
 
 	double target = timer_time_until_next_timer();
diff --git a/src/wpc/core.c b/src/wpc/core.c
index 4a098653a..227152af7 100644
--- a/src/wpc/core.c
+++ b/src/wpc/core.c
@@ -77,7 +77,6 @@ void vp_setDIP(int bank, int value) { }
 
 #if defined(VPINMAME) || defined(LIBPINMAME)
   #include "vpintf.h"
-  extern int g_fPause;
   extern int g_fHandleKeyboard, g_fHandleMechanics;
   extern char g_fShowWinDMD;
   extern char g_fShowPinDMD; /* pinDMD */