diff --git a/src/playsim/p_acs.cpp b/src/playsim/p_acs.cpp
index df54741ff..dca86a7c8 100644
--- a/src/playsim/p_acs.cpp
+++ b/src/playsim/p_acs.cpp
@@ -5911,14 +5911,9 @@ doplaysound:			if (funcIndex == ACSF_PlayActorSound)
 						if (sid != 0)
 						{
 							// What a mess. I think it's a given that this was used with sound flags so it will forever be restricted to the original 8 channels.
-							if (!looping)
-							{
-								S_PlaySound(spot, chan&7, EChanFlags::FromInt(chan&~7), sid, vol, atten, !!local);
-							}
-							else if (!S_IsActorPlayingSomething(spot, chan & 7, sid))
-							{
-								S_PlaySound(spot, chan&7, EChanFlags::FromInt(chan & ~7)|CHANF_LOOP, sid, vol, atten, !!local);
-							}
+							if (local) chan |= CHANF_LOCAL;
+							if (looping) chan |= CHANF_LOOP | CHANF_NOSTOP;
+							S_PlaySound(spot, chan&7, EChanFlags::FromInt(chan&~7), sid, vol, atten);
 						}
 					}
 				}
diff --git a/src/scripting/vmthunks_actors.cpp b/src/scripting/vmthunks_actors.cpp
index ef82eb657..0bfe0a7cb 100644
--- a/src/scripting/vmthunks_actors.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/vmthunks_actors.cpp
@@ -181,11 +181,9 @@ DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_NATIVE(AActor, A_StartSound, A_StartSound)
 	PARAM_INT(channel);
 	PARAM_INT(flags);
 	PARAM_FLOAT(volume);
-	PARAM_BOOL(looping);
 	PARAM_FLOAT(attenuation);
-	PARAM_BOOL(local);
 	PARAM_FLOAT(pitch);
-	A_StartSound(self, soundid, channel, flags, volume, looping, attenuation, local, pitch);
+	A_StartSound(self, soundid, channel, flags, volume, attenuation, pitch);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/sound/backend/i_soundinternal.h b/src/sound/backend/i_soundinternal.h
index 35e00f52b..1651d518d 100644
--- a/src/sound/backend/i_soundinternal.h
+++ b/src/sound/backend/i_soundinternal.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ enum EChanFlag
 	CHANF_VIRTUAL = 2048,	// internal: Channel is currently virtual
 	CHANF_NOSTOP = 4096,	// only for A_PlaySound. Does not start if channel is playing something.
 	CHANF_OVERLAP = 8192, // [MK] Does not stop any sounds in the channel and instead plays over them.
+	CHANF_LOCAL = 16384,	// only plays locally for the calling actor
 };
 
 typedef TFlags<EChanFlag> EChanFlags;
diff --git a/src/sound/s_doomsound.cpp b/src/sound/s_doomsound.cpp
index 12ec59cf1..d6b16e61c 100644
--- a/src/sound/s_doomsound.cpp
+++ b/src/sound/s_doomsound.cpp
@@ -443,50 +443,45 @@ void S_Sound (const sector_t *sec, int channel, EChanFlags flags, FSoundID sfxid
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
-void S_PlaySoundPitch(AActor *a, int chan, EChanFlags flags, FSoundID sid, float vol, float atten, bool local, float pitch)
+void S_PlaySoundPitch(AActor *a, int chan, EChanFlags flags, FSoundID sid, float vol, float atten, float pitch)
 {
 	if (a == nullptr || a->Sector->Flags & SECF_SILENT || a->Level != primaryLevel)
 		return;
 
-	if (!local)
+	if (!(flags & CHANF_LOCAL))
 	{
-		S_SoundPitchActor(a, chan, flags, sid, vol, atten, pitch);
+		if (!(flags & (CHANF_NOSTOP) || !S_IsActorPlayingSomething(a, chan, sid)))
+		{
+			S_SoundPitchActor(a, chan, flags, sid, vol, atten, pitch);
+		}
 	}
 	else
 	{
 		if (a->CheckLocalView())
 		{
-			S_SoundPitch(chan, flags, sid, vol, ATTN_NONE, pitch);
+			if (!(flags & (CHANF_NOSTOP) || !soundEngine->IsSourcePlayingSomething(SOURCE_None, nullptr, chan, sid)))
+			{
+				S_SoundPitch(chan, flags, sid, vol, ATTN_NONE, pitch);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-void S_PlaySound(AActor *a, int chan, EChanFlags flags, FSoundID sid, float vol, float atten, bool local)
+void S_PlaySound(AActor *a, int chan, EChanFlags flags, FSoundID sid, float vol, float atten)
 {
-	S_PlaySoundPitch(a, chan, flags, sid, vol, atten, local, 0.f);
+	S_PlaySoundPitch(a, chan, flags, sid, vol, atten, 0.f);
 }
 
-void A_StartSound(AActor *self, int soundid, int channel, int flags, double volume, int looping, double attenuation, int local, double pitch)
+void A_StartSound(AActor *self, int soundid, int channel, int flags, double volume, double attenuation, double pitch)
 {
-	if (!looping)
-	{
-		if (!(flags & CHANF_NOSTOP) || !S_IsActorPlayingSomething(self, channel, soundid))
-		{
-			S_PlaySoundPitch(self, channel, EChanFlags::FromInt(flags), soundid, (float)volume, (float)attenuation, local, (float)pitch);
-		}
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		if (!S_IsActorPlayingSomething(self, channel, soundid))
-		{
-			S_PlaySoundPitch(self, channel, EChanFlags::FromInt(flags) | CHANF_LOOP, soundid, (float)volume, (float)attenuation, local, (float)pitch);
-		}
-	}
+	S_PlaySoundPitch(self, channel, EChanFlags::FromInt(flags), soundid, (float)volume, (float)attenuation, (float)pitch);
 }
 
 void A_PlaySound(AActor* self, int soundid, int channel, double volume, int looping, double attenuation, int local, double pitch)
 {
-	A_StartSound(self, soundid, channel & 7, channel & ~7, volume, looping, attenuation, local, pitch);
+	if (looping) channel |= CHANF_LOOP | CHANF_NOSTOP;
+	if (local) channel |= CHANF_LOCAL;
+	A_StartSound(self, soundid, channel & 7, channel & ~7, volume, attenuation, pitch);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/sound/s_doomsound.h b/src/sound/s_doomsound.h
index d1b3e197d..27dd07fb7 100644
--- a/src/sound/s_doomsound.h
+++ b/src/sound/s_doomsound.h
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@ void S_Sound(FLevelLocals *Level, const DVector3 &pos, int channel, EChanFlags f
 void S_SoundPitchActor (AActor *ent, int channel, EChanFlags flags, FSoundID sfxid, float volume, float attenuation, float pitch);
 
 // [Nash] Used by ACS and DECORATE
-void S_PlaySound(AActor *a, int chan, EChanFlags flags, FSoundID sid, float vol, float atten, bool local);
-void S_PlaySoundPitch(AActor *a, int chan, EChanFlags flags, FSoundID sid, float vol, float atten, bool local, float pitch);
+void S_PlaySound(AActor *a, int chan, EChanFlags flags, FSoundID sid, float vol, float atten);
 
 // Stops a sound emanating from one of an emitter's channels.
 void S_StopSound (AActor *ent, int channel);
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ void S_ChangeActorSoundPitch(AActor *actor, int channel, double pitch);
 void S_SerializeSounds(FSerializer &arc);
 
 void A_PlaySound(AActor *self, int soundid, int channel, double volume, int looping, double attenuation, int local, double pitch);
-void A_StartSound(AActor* self, int soundid, int flags, int channel, double volume, int looping, double attenuation, int local, double pitch);
+void A_StartSound(AActor* self, int soundid, int channel, int flags, double volume, double attenuation,  double pitch);
 static void S_SetListener(AActor *listenactor);
 void S_SoundReset();
 void S_ResumeSound(bool state);
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs
index be4fd430b..8d56d92c0 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/actor.zs
@@ -1054,8 +1054,8 @@ class Actor : Thinker native
 
 	deprecated("2.3") native void A_BulletAttack();
 	native void A_WolfAttack(int flags = 0, sound whattoplay = "weapons/pistol", double snipe = 1.0, int maxdamage = 64, int blocksize = 128, int pointblank = 2, int longrange = 4, double runspeed = 160.0, class<Actor> pufftype = "BulletPuff");
-	/*deprecated("4.3")*/ native clearscope void A_PlaySound(sound whattoplay = "weapons/pistol", int slot = CHAN_BODY, double volume = 1.0, bool looping = false, double attenuation = ATTN_NORM, bool local = false, double pitch = 0.0);
-	native clearscope void A_StartSound(sound whattoplay, int slot, int flags = 0, double volume = 1.0, bool looping = false, double attenuation = ATTN_NORM, bool local = false, double pitch = 0.0);
+	deprecated("4.3") native clearscope void A_PlaySound(sound whattoplay = "weapons/pistol", int slot = CHAN_BODY, double volume = 1.0, bool looping = false, double attenuation = ATTN_NORM, bool local = false, double pitch = 0.0);
+	native clearscope void A_StartSound(sound whattoplay, int slot, int flags = 0, double volume = 1.0, double attenuation = ATTN_NORM, double pitch = 0.0);
 	native void A_SoundVolume(int slot, double volume);
 	native void A_SoundPitch(int slot, double pitch);
 	deprecated("2.3") void A_PlayWeaponSound(sound whattoplay) { A_StartSound(whattoplay, CHAN_WEAPON); }
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/hexen/magelightning.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/hexen/magelightning.zs
index f68defe9d..d079a8797 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/hexen/magelightning.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/hexen/magelightning.zs
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class Lightning : Actor
 			if ((!thing.player && !thing.bBoss) || !(Level.maptime & 1))
 			{
 				thing.DamageMobj(self, target, 3, 'Electric');
-				A_StartSound(AttackSound, CHAN_WEAPON, CHANF_NOSTOP, 1, false);
+				A_StartSound(AttackSound, CHAN_WEAPON, CHANF_NOSTOP, 1);
 				if (thing.bIsMonster && random[LightningHit]() < 64)
 				{
 					thing.Howl ();
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/inventory/inventory.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/inventory/inventory.zs
index ca6d48de2..99ca77425 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/inventory/inventory.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/inventory/inventory.zs
@@ -1074,7 +1074,7 @@ class Inventory : Actor
 			chan = CHAN_ITEM;
 			flags = CHANF_MAYBE_LOCAL;
 		}
-		toucher.A_StartSound(PickupSound, chan, flags, 1, false, atten);
+		toucher.A_StartSound(PickupSound, chan, flags, 1, atten);
 	}
 
 	//===========================================================================
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/constants.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/constants.zs
index 8c91efb09..d1e073274 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/constants.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/constants.zs
@@ -430,6 +430,10 @@ enum ESoundFlags
 	CHANF_LOOP = 256,
 	CHANF_NOSTOP = 4096,
 	CHANF_OVERLAP = 8192,
+	CHANF_LOCAL = 16384,
+
+
+	CHANF_LOOPING = CHANF_LOOP | CHANF_NOSTOP, // convenience value for replicating the old 'looping' boolean.
 
 };