diff --git a/sound/core/timer.c b/sound/core/timer.c
index 07ef127b29e1..9407954034cf 100644
--- a/sound/core/timer.c
+++ b/sound/core/timer.c
@@ -458,6 +458,8 @@ static void remove_slave_links(struct snd_timer_instance *timeri,
 		list_del_init(&slave->ack_list);
 		list_del_init(&slave->active_list);
 	}
+	/* the close is done; a reopen must not see the mark */
+	timeri->flags &= ~SNDRV_TIMER_IFLG_DEAD;
 }
 
 /*