diff --git a/Source/i_winmusic.c b/Source/i_winmusic.c
index ab78c46a..67618033 100644
--- a/Source/i_winmusic.c
+++ b/Source/i_winmusic.c
@@ -413,6 +413,7 @@ void I_WIN_PlaySong(boolean looping)
   }
 
   hPlayerThread = CreateThread(NULL, 0, (LPTHREAD_START_ROUTINE)PlayerProc, 0, 0, 0);
+  SetThreadPriority(hPlayerThread, THREAD_PRIORITY_TIME_CRITICAL);
 }
 
 void I_WIN_RegisterSong(void *data, int len)