diff --git a/ext/alsa/gstalsasink.c b/ext/alsa/gstalsasink.c
index f9a10e4d3e..9172f496e8 100644
--- a/ext/alsa/gstalsasink.c
+++ b/ext/alsa/gstalsasink.c
@@ -881,8 +881,9 @@ gst_alsasink_write (GstAudioSink * asink, gpointer data, guint length)
      * to 4 times the period time */
     err = snd_pcm_wait (alsa->handle, (4 * alsa->period_time / 1000));
     if (err < 0) {
-      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (asink, "wait timeout, %d", err);
-    } else {
+      GST_DEBUG_OBJECT (asink, "wait error, %d", err);
+    }
+    else {
       err = snd_pcm_writei (alsa->handle, ptr, cptr);
     }