diff --git a/libs/audio/renderer/snd_dma.c b/libs/audio/renderer/snd_dma.c
index 43ef5e779..6753f9455 100644
--- a/libs/audio/renderer/snd_dma.c
+++ b/libs/audio/renderer/snd_dma.c
@@ -361,6 +361,13 @@ s_startup (void)
 	sound_started = 1;
 }
 
+static void
+s_snd_force_unblock (void)
+{
+	snd_blocked = 1;
+	s_unblock_sound ();
+}
+
 static void
 s_init (void)
 {
@@ -372,6 +379,8 @@ s_init (void)
 					"Stops all sounds currently being played");
 	Cmd_AddCommand ("soundinfo", s_soundinfo_f,
 					"Report information on the sound system");
+	Cmd_AddCommand ("snd_force_unblock", s_snd_force_unblock,
+					"fix permanently blocked sound");
 
 	snd_interp = Cvar_Get ("snd_interp", "1", CVAR_ARCHIVE, NULL,
 	                              "control sample interpolation");
diff --git a/libs/audio/renderer/snd_jack.c b/libs/audio/renderer/snd_jack.c
index f8b6a086e..12ed3b70e 100644
--- a/libs/audio/renderer/snd_jack.c
+++ b/libs/audio/renderer/snd_jack.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ static __attribute__ ((used)) const char rcsid[] =
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <jack/jack.h>
 
+#include "QF/cmd.h"
 #include "QF/cvar.h"
 #include "QF/hash.h"
 #include "QF/plugin.h"
@@ -99,6 +100,13 @@ s_unblock_sound (void)
 	}
 }
 
+static void
+s_snd_force_unblock (void)
+{
+	snd_blocked = 1;
+	s_unblock_sound ();
+}
+
 static void
 snd_jack_xfer (int endtime)
 {
@@ -144,6 +152,9 @@ s_init (void)
 	snd_shm = &_snd_shm;
 	snd_shm->xfer = snd_jack_xfer;
 
+	Cmd_AddCommand ("snd_force_unblock", s_snd_force_unblock,
+					"fix permanently blocked sound");
+
 	snd_interp = Cvar_Get ("snd_interp", "1", CVAR_ARCHIVE, NULL,
 	                              "control sample interpolation");
 	snd_volume = Cvar_Get ("volume", "0.7", CVAR_ARCHIVE, NULL,