diff --git a/libs/backends/pulseaudio/pulseaudio_backend.cc b/libs/backends/pulseaudio/pulseaudio_backend.cc
index 09fcdae29b..017a523505 100644
--- a/libs/backends/pulseaudio/pulseaudio_backend.cc
+++ b/libs/backends/pulseaudio/pulseaudio_backend.cc
@@ -302,8 +302,7 @@ PulseAudioBackend::init_pulse ()
 
 	/* https://freedesktop.org/software/pulseaudio/doxygen/def_8h.html#a6966d809483170bc6d2e6c16188850fc */
 	pa_stream_flags_t sf = (pa_stream_flags_t) (
-			  (int)PA_STREAM_START_CORKED
-			| (int)PA_STREAM_NO_REMAP_CHANNELS
+			  (int)PA_STREAM_NO_REMAP_CHANNELS
 			| (int)PA_STREAM_NO_REMIX_CHANNELS
 			| (int)PA_STREAM_EARLY_REQUESTS  // request more data as soon as minreq is reached
 			);
@@ -987,16 +986,6 @@ PulseAudioBackend::main_process_thread ()
 	manager.registration_callback ();
 	manager.graph_order_callback ();
 
-	/* begin streaming */
-	if (!cork_pulse (false)) {
-		PBD::error << _("PulseAudioBackend::main_process_thread initial uncork failed.") << endmsg;
-		_active = false;
-		if (_run) {
-			engine.halted_callback ("PulseAudio: cannot uncork stream");
-		}
-		return 0;
-	}
-
 	_dsp_load_calc.reset ();
 	stream_latency_update_cb (p_stream, this);