diff --git a/sound/core/timer.c b/sound/core/timer.c
index c0c84119a980..6d731efbbef2 100644
--- a/sound/core/timer.c
+++ b/sound/core/timer.c
@@ -1937,7 +1937,7 @@ static ssize_t snd_timer_user_read(struct file *file, char __user *buffer,
 
 			if (tu->disconnected) {
 				err = -ENODEV;
-				break;
+				goto _error;
 			}
 			if (signal_pending(current)) {
 				err = -ERESTARTSYS;
@@ -1947,7 +1947,6 @@ static ssize_t snd_timer_user_read(struct file *file, char __user *buffer,
 
 		qhead = tu->qhead++;
 		tu->qhead %= tu->queue_size;
-		tu->qused--;
 		spin_unlock_irq(&tu->qlock);
 
 		if (tu->tread) {
@@ -1961,6 +1960,7 @@ static ssize_t snd_timer_user_read(struct file *file, char __user *buffer,
 		}
 
 		spin_lock_irq(&tu->qlock);
+		tu->qused--;
 		if (err < 0)
 			goto _error;
 		result += unit;