diff --git a/sound/core/timer.c b/sound/core/timer.c
index d104adc75a8b..71a07c1662f5 100644
--- a/sound/core/timer.c
+++ b/sound/core/timer.c
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ static int snd_timer_start1(struct snd_timer_instance *timeri,
 	/* check the actual time for the start tick;
 	 * bail out as error if it's way too low (< 100us)
 	 */
-	if (start) {
+	if (start && !(timer->hw.flags & SNDRV_TIMER_HW_SLAVE)) {
 		if ((u64)snd_timer_hw_resolution(timer) * ticks < 100000)
 			return -EINVAL;
 	}