diff --git a/simgear/sound/xmlsound.cxx b/simgear/sound/xmlsound.cxx
index f0d6e56e..4d597bec 100644
--- a/simgear/sound/xmlsound.cxx
+++ b/simgear/sound/xmlsound.cxx
@@ -74,8 +74,7 @@ SGXmlSound::SGXmlSound()
     _dt_play(0.0),
     _dt_stop(0.0),
     _delay(0.0),
-    _stopping(0.0),
-    _initialized(false)
+    _stopping(0.0)
 {
 }
 
@@ -337,19 +336,12 @@ SGXmlSound::update (double dt)
    if (_property)
        curr_value = _property->getDoubleValue();
 
-   if (!_initialized)
-   {
-       // update initial value before detecting changes
-       _prev_value  = curr_value;
-       _initialized = true;
-   }
-
    // If a condition is defined, test whether it is FALSE,
    // else
    //   if a property is defined then test if it's value is FALSE
    //      or if the mode is IN_TRANSIT then
    //            test whether the current value matches the previous value.
-   if (							// Lisp, anyone?
+   if ( 							// Lisp, anyone?
        (_condition && !_condition->test()) ||
        (!_condition && _property &&
         (
diff --git a/simgear/sound/xmlsound.hxx b/simgear/sound/xmlsound.hxx
index 53f9adcb..78d6ae7e 100644
--- a/simgear/sound/xmlsound.hxx
+++ b/simgear/sound/xmlsound.hxx
@@ -116,6 +116,14 @@ public:
    */
   virtual void update (double dt);
 
+  /**
+   * Start taking action on the pre-defined events.
+   */
+  void start() {
+    if (_property) _prev_value  = _property->getDoubleValue();
+    _active = false;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Stop taking action on the pre-defined events.
    */
@@ -158,7 +166,6 @@ private:
   double _delay;        // time after which the sound should be started (default: 0)
   double _stopping;     // time after the sound should have stopped.
                         // This is useful for lost packets in in-transit mode.
-  bool _initialized;
 
   // sound system version 1.0
   std::vector<_snd_prop> _volume;