diff --git a/sound/core/pcm_lib.c b/sound/core/pcm_lib.c
index 6c99fa8ac5fa..6c0b30391ba9 100644
--- a/sound/core/pcm_lib.c
+++ b/sound/core/pcm_lib.c
@@ -2112,13 +2112,6 @@ int pcm_lib_apply_appl_ptr(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/* allow waiting for a capture stream that hasn't been started */
-#if IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SND_PCM_OSS)
-#define wait_capture_start(substream)	((substream)->oss.oss)
-#else
-#define wait_capture_start(substream)	false
-#endif
-
 /* the common loop for read/write data */
 snd_pcm_sframes_t __snd_pcm_lib_xfer(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 				     void *data, bool interleaved,
@@ -2184,16 +2177,11 @@ snd_pcm_sframes_t __snd_pcm_lib_xfer(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 		snd_pcm_update_hw_ptr(substream);
 
 	if (!is_playback &&
-	    runtime->status->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_PREPARED) {
-		if (size >= runtime->start_threshold) {
-			err = snd_pcm_start(substream);
-			if (err < 0)
-				goto _end_unlock;
-		} else if (!wait_capture_start(substream)) {
-			/* nothing to do */
-			err = 0;
+	    runtime->status->state == SNDRV_PCM_STATE_PREPARED &&
+	    size >= runtime->start_threshold) {
+		err = snd_pcm_start(substream);
+		if (err < 0)
 			goto _end_unlock;
-		}
 	}
 
 	avail = snd_pcm_avail(substream);