diff --git a/src/p_actionfunctions.cpp b/src/p_actionfunctions.cpp
index 69ca13f16..40629bfcb 100644
--- a/src/p_actionfunctions.cpp
+++ b/src/p_actionfunctions.cpp
@@ -1021,7 +1021,10 @@ DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(AActor, A_PlaySound)
 
 	if (!looping)
 	{
-		S_PlaySound(self, channel, soundid, (float)volume, (float)attenuation, local);
+		if (!(channel & CHAN_NOSTOP) || !S_IsActorPlayingSomething(self, channel & 7, soundid))
+		{
+			S_PlaySound(self, channel, soundid, (float)volume, (float)attenuation, local);
+		}
 	}
 	else
 	{
diff --git a/src/s_sound.h b/src/s_sound.h
index d6d2a5403..00c7d0587 100644
--- a/src/s_sound.h
+++ b/src/s_sound.h
@@ -284,6 +284,7 @@ void S_PlaySound(AActor *a, int chan, FSoundID sid, float vol, float atten, bool
 #define CHAN_JUSTSTARTED		512	// internal: Sound has not been updated yet.
 #define CHAN_ABSTIME			1024// internal: Start time is absolute and does not depend on current time.
 #define CHAN_VIRTUAL			2048// internal: Channel is currently virtual
+#define CHAN_NOSTOP				4096// only for A_PlaySound. Does not start if channel is playing something.
 
 // sound attenuation values
 #define ATTN_NONE				0.f	// full volume the entire level
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/constants.txt b/wadsrc/static/zscript/constants.txt
index ef2c4521f..6996da6cc 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/constants.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/constants.txt
@@ -413,7 +413,8 @@ enum ESoundFlags
 	CHAN_MAYBE_LOCAL = 16,
 	CHAN_UI = 32,
 	CHAN_NOPAUSE = 64,
-	CHAN_PICKUP = (CHAN_ITEM|CHAN_MAYBE_LOCAL)
+	CHAN_PICKUP = (CHAN_ITEM|CHAN_MAYBE_LOCAL),
+	CHAN_NOSTOP = 4096
 
 };
 
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/hexen/magelightning.txt b/wadsrc/static/zscript/hexen/magelightning.txt
index 343c96012..d45162d49 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/hexen/magelightning.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/hexen/magelightning.txt
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class Lightning : Actor
 			if ((!thing.player && !thing.bBoss) || !(level.time&1))
 			{
 				thing.DamageMobj(self, target, 3, 'Electric');
-				A_PlaySound(AttackSound, CHAN_WEAPON, 1, true);
+				A_PlaySound(AttackSound, CHAN_WEAPON|CHAN_NOSTOP, 1, false);
 				if (thing.bIsMonster && random[LightningHit]() < 64)
 				{
 					thing.Howl ();