diff --git a/src/engine/playback.cpp b/src/engine/playback.cpp
index 78bf01359..5eaff648e 100644
--- a/src/engine/playback.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/playback.cpp
@@ -1144,13 +1144,15 @@ void DivEngine::nextBuf(float** in, float** out, int inChans, int outChans, unsi
     // 2. check whether we gonna tick
     if (cycles<=0) {
       // we have to tick
-      unsigned int realPos=size-(runLeftG>>MASTER_CLOCK_PREC);
-      if (realPos>=size) realPos=size-1;
-      if (song.hilightA>0) {
-        if ((curRow%song.hilightA)==0 && ticks==1) metroTick[realPos]=1;
-      }
-      if (song.hilightB>0) {
-        if ((curRow%song.hilightB)==0 && ticks==1) metroTick[realPos]=2;
+      if (!freelance && stepPlay!=-1) {
+        unsigned int realPos=size-(runLeftG>>MASTER_CLOCK_PREC);
+        if (realPos>=size) realPos=size-1;
+        if (song.hilightA>0) {
+          if ((curRow%song.hilightA)==0 && ticks==1) metroTick[realPos]=1;
+        }
+        if (song.hilightB>0) {
+          if ((curRow%song.hilightB)==0 && ticks==1) metroTick[realPos]=2;
+        }
       }
       if (nextTick()) {
         if (remainingLoops>0) {