diff --git a/sound/core/oss/pcm_oss.c b/sound/core/oss/pcm_oss.c
index 481ab0e94ffa..1980f68246cb 100644
--- a/sound/core/oss/pcm_oss.c
+++ b/sound/core/oss/pcm_oss.c
@@ -1128,13 +1128,14 @@ static int snd_pcm_oss_get_active_substream(struct snd_pcm_oss_file *pcm_oss_fil
 }
 
 /* call with params_lock held */
+/* NOTE: this always call PREPARE unconditionally no matter whether
+ * runtime->oss.prepare is set or not
+ */
 static int snd_pcm_oss_prepare(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream)
 {
 	int err;
 	struct snd_pcm_runtime *runtime = substream->runtime;
 
-	if (!runtime->oss.prepare)
-		return 0;
 	err = snd_pcm_kernel_ioctl(substream, SNDRV_PCM_IOCTL_PREPARE, NULL);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pcm_dbg(substream->pcm,