diff --git a/src/host/alsa/mod.rs b/src/host/alsa/mod.rs
index bce4549ed..baddd37b5 100644
--- a/src/host/alsa/mod.rs
+++ b/src/host/alsa/mod.rs
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ fn set_hw_params_from_format<'a>(
     config: &StreamConfig,
     sample_format: SampleFormat,
 ) -> Result<alsa::pcm::HwParams<'a>, BackendSpecificError> {
-    let mut hw_params = alsa::pcm::HwParams::any(pcm_handle)?;
+    let hw_params = alsa::pcm::HwParams::any(pcm_handle)?;
     hw_params.set_access(alsa::pcm::Access::RWInterleaved)?;
 
     let sample_format = if cfg!(target_endian = "big") {
@@ -890,12 +890,10 @@ fn set_hw_params_from_format<'a>(
     hw_params.set_rate(config.sample_rate.0, alsa::ValueOr::Nearest)?;
     hw_params.set_channels(config.channels as u32)?;
 
-    // If this isn't set manually a overlarge buffer may be used causing audio delay
-    let mut hw_params_copy = hw_params.clone();
-    if let Err(_) = hw_params.set_buffer_time_near(100_000, alsa::ValueOr::Nearest) {
-        // Swap out the params with errors for a snapshot taken before the error was introduced.
-        mem::swap(&mut hw_params_copy, &mut hw_params);
-    }
+    // These values together represent a moderate latency and wakeup interval.
+    // Without them we are at the mercy of the device
+    hw_params.set_period_time_near(25_000, alsa::ValueOr::Nearest)?;
+    hw_params.set_buffer_time_near(100_000, alsa::ValueOr::Nearest)?;
 
     pcm_handle.hw_params(&hw_params)?;