diff --git a/src/audio/sfx_base.hpp b/src/audio/sfx_base.hpp
index e0663ec0d..50fc0aee9 100644
--- a/src/audio/sfx_base.hpp
+++ b/src/audio/sfx_base.hpp
@@ -45,8 +45,7 @@ public:
     /** Status of a sound effect. */
     enum SFXStatus
     {
-        SFX_UNKNOWN = -1, SFX_STOPPED = 0, SFX_PAUSED = 1, SFX_PLAYING = 2,
-        SFX_INITIAL = 3
+        SFX_UNKNOWN = -1, SFX_STOPPED = 0, SFX_PAUSED = 1, SFX_PLAYING = 2
     };
 
     virtual           ~SFXBase()  {}
diff --git a/src/audio/sfx_openal.cpp b/src/audio/sfx_openal.cpp
index 53e5e5b8e..20d6a0d59 100644
--- a/src/audio/sfx_openal.cpp
+++ b/src/audio/sfx_openal.cpp
@@ -312,8 +312,10 @@ void SFXOpenAL::deleteSFX()
 void SFXOpenAL::play()
 {
     // Technically the sfx is only playing after the sfx thread starts it,
-    // but for STK this is correct since we don't want to start the same
-    // sfx twice.
+    // but this is important to set this here since stk might decide the
+    // delete a sfx if it has finished playing (i.e. is in stopped state)
+    // - which can happen if the sfx thread had no time to actually start
+    // it yet.
     m_status = SFX_PLAYING;
     SFXManager::get()->queue(SFXManager::SFX_PLAY, this);
 }   // play
diff --git a/src/graphics/hit_sfx.cpp b/src/graphics/hit_sfx.cpp
index e9018a474..1a1f45c58 100644
--- a/src/graphics/hit_sfx.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/hit_sfx.cpp
@@ -65,6 +65,5 @@ void HitSFX::setPlayerKartHit()
 bool HitSFX::updateAndDelete(float dt)
 {
     SFXBase::SFXStatus status = m_sfx->getStatus();
-    if(status==SFXBase::SFX_INITIAL) return false;
     return status!= SFXBase::SFX_PLAYING;
 }   // updateAndDelete