diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp
index 5be63ea21..eccd3a2f8 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp
@@ -4480,14 +4480,9 @@ extern int G_StartRTS(int lumpNum, int localPlayer)
     return 0;
 }
 
-void G_StartMusic(void)
+void G_PrintCurrentMusic(void)
 {
-    int const levelNum = g_musicIndex;
-    Bassert(g_mapInfo[levelNum].musicfn != NULL);
-
-    S_PlayMusic(g_mapInfo[levelNum].musicfn);
-
-    Bsnprintf(apStrings[QUOTE_MUSIC], MAXQUOTELEN, "Playing %s", g_mapInfo[levelNum].musicfn);
+    Bsnprintf(apStrings[QUOTE_MUSIC], MAXQUOTELEN, "Playing %s", g_mapInfo[g_musicIndex].musicfn);
     P_DoQuote(QUOTE_MUSIC, g_player[myconnectindex].ps);
 }
 
@@ -4721,17 +4716,18 @@ void G_HandleLocalKeys(void)
             {
                 if (ridiculeNum == 5 && g_player[myconnectindex].ps->fta > 0 && g_player[myconnectindex].ps->ftq == QUOTE_MUSIC)
                 {
-                    const int32_t maxi = VOLUMEALL ? MUS_FIRST_SPECIAL : 6;
+                    const unsigned int maxi = VOLUMEALL ? MUS_FIRST_SPECIAL : 6;
 
+                    unsigned int MyMusicIndex = g_musicIndex;
                     do
                     {
-                        g_musicIndex++;
-                        if (g_musicIndex >= maxi)
-                            g_musicIndex = 0;
+                        ++MyMusicIndex;
+                        if (MyMusicIndex >= maxi)
+                            MyMusicIndex = 0;
                     }
-                    while (g_mapInfo[g_musicIndex].musicfn == NULL);
+                    while (S_TryPlayLevelMusic(MyMusicIndex));
 
-                    G_StartMusic();
+                    G_PrintCurrentMusic();
 
                     return;
                 }
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/game.h b/source/duke3d/src/game.h
index 1a6b48935..017cc181a 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/game.h
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/game.h
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ static inline int G_GetViewscreenSizeShift(const uspritetype *tspr)
 #endif
 }
 
-extern void G_StartMusic(void);
+extern void G_PrintCurrentMusic(void);
 
 #ifdef LUNATIC
 void El_SetCON(const char *conluacode);
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/gameexec.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/gameexec.cpp
index feaa5d808..22cf90f4b 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/gameexec.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/gameexec.cpp
@@ -1139,14 +1139,7 @@ static int G_StartTrackSlot(int const volumeNum, int const levelNum)
     {
         int trackNum = MAXLEVELS*volumeNum + levelNum;
 
-        if (g_mapInfo[trackNum].musicfn != NULL)
-        {
-            // Only set g_musicIndex on success.
-            g_musicIndex = trackNum;
-            S_PlayMusic(g_mapInfo[trackNum].musicfn);
-
-            return 0;
-        }
+        return S_TryPlaySpecialMusic(trackNum);
     }
 
     return 1;
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/midi.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/midi.cpp
index bc843191e..1fbc6542f 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/midi.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/midi.cpp
@@ -635,13 +635,6 @@ int32_t MIDI_PlaySong(char *song, int32_t loopflag)
     track *CurrentTrack;
     char *ptr;
 
-    if (_MIDI_SongLoaded)
-        MIDI_StopSong();
-
-    MPU_Init(MUSIC_SoundDevice);
-
-    _MIDI_Loop = loopflag;
-
     if (_MIDI_Funcs == NULL)
         return MIDI_NullMidiModule;
 
@@ -652,12 +645,12 @@ int32_t MIDI_PlaySong(char *song, int32_t loopflag)
     headersize      = _MIDI_ReadNumber(song, 4);
     song += 4;
     format          = _MIDI_ReadNumber(song, 2);
-    _MIDI_NumTracks = _MIDI_ReadNumber(song + 2, 2);
-    _MIDI_Division  = _MIDI_ReadNumber(song + 4, 2);
-    if (_MIDI_Division < 0)
+    int32_t My_MIDI_NumTracks = _MIDI_ReadNumber(song + 2, 2);
+    int32_t My_MIDI_Division  = _MIDI_ReadNumber(song + 4, 2);
+    if (My_MIDI_Division < 0)
     {
         // If a SMPTE time division is given, just set to 96 so no errors occur
-        _MIDI_Division = 96;
+        My_MIDI_Division = 96;
     }
 
     if (format > MAX_FORMAT)
@@ -665,22 +658,22 @@ int32_t MIDI_PlaySong(char *song, int32_t loopflag)
 
     ptr = song + headersize;
 
-    if (_MIDI_NumTracks == 0)
+    if (My_MIDI_NumTracks == 0)
         return MIDI_NoTracks;
 
-    _MIDI_TrackMemSize = _MIDI_NumTracks  * sizeof(track);
-    _MIDI_TrackPtr = (track *)Xmalloc(_MIDI_TrackMemSize);
+    int32_t My_MIDI_TrackMemSize = My_MIDI_NumTracks  * sizeof(track);
+    track * My_MIDI_TrackPtr = (track *)Xmalloc(My_MIDI_TrackMemSize);
 
-    CurrentTrack = _MIDI_TrackPtr;
-    numtracks    = _MIDI_NumTracks;
+    CurrentTrack = My_MIDI_TrackPtr;
+    numtracks    = My_MIDI_NumTracks;
 
     while (numtracks--)
     {
         if (B_UNBUF32(ptr) != MIDI_TRACK_SIGNATURE)
         {
-            DO_FREE_AND_NULL(_MIDI_TrackPtr);
+            DO_FREE_AND_NULL(My_MIDI_TrackPtr);
 
-            _MIDI_TrackMemSize = 0;
+            My_MIDI_TrackMemSize = 0;
 
             return MIDI_InvalidTrack;
         }
@@ -692,6 +685,19 @@ int32_t MIDI_PlaySong(char *song, int32_t loopflag)
         CurrentTrack++;
     }
 
+    // at this point we know song load is successful
+
+    if (_MIDI_SongLoaded)
+        MIDI_StopSong();
+
+    MPU_Init(MUSIC_SoundDevice);
+
+    _MIDI_Loop = loopflag;
+    _MIDI_NumTracks = My_MIDI_NumTracks;
+    _MIDI_Division = My_MIDI_Division;
+    _MIDI_TrackMemSize = My_MIDI_TrackMemSize;
+    _MIDI_TrackPtr = My_MIDI_TrackPtr;
+
     _MIDI_InitEMIDI();
     _MIDI_ResetTracks();
 
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/music.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/music.cpp
index 1cd83d200..bfb2eadab 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/music.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/music.cpp
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ int32_t MUSIC_StopSong(void)
 
 int32_t MUSIC_PlaySong(char *song, int32_t loopflag)
 {
-    MUSIC_StopSong();
+    MUSIC_SetErrorCode(MUSIC_Ok)
 
     if (MIDI_PlaySong(song, loopflag) != MIDI_Ok)
     {
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/osdcmds.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/osdcmds.cpp
index 021a87601..7c2f6698b 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/osdcmds.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/osdcmds.cpp
@@ -400,10 +400,9 @@ static int32_t osdcmd_music(osdfuncparm_t const * const parm)
             return OSDCMD_OK;
         }
 
-        if (g_mapInfo[sel].musicfn != NULL)
+        if (!S_TryPlayLevelMusic(sel))
         {
-            g_musicIndex = sel;
-            G_StartMusic();
+            G_PrintCurrentMusic();
         }
         else
         {
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/premap.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/premap.cpp
index db02ef6a5..6d21ef30e 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/premap.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/premap.cpp
@@ -423,10 +423,7 @@ void G_CacheMapData(void)
     if (ud.recstat == 2)
         return;
 
-    if (g_mapInfo[MUS_LOADING].musicfn)
-    {
-        S_PlayMusic(g_mapInfo[MUS_LOADING].musicfn);
-    }
+    S_TryPlaySpecialMusic(MUS_LOADING);
 
 #if defined EDUKE32_TOUCH_DEVICES && defined USE_OPENGL
     polymost_glreset();
@@ -1404,7 +1401,7 @@ void G_NewGame(int volumeNum, int levelNum, int skillNum)
         VM_OnEventWithReturn(EVENT_NEWGAMESCREEN, g_player[myconnectindex].ps->i, myconnectindex, 0) == 0 &&
         levelNum == 0 && volumeNum == 3 && ud.lockout == 0 && (G_GetLogoFlags() & LOGO_NOE4CUTSCENE)==0)
     {
-        S_PlayMusic(g_mapInfo[MUS_BRIEFING].musicfn);
+        S_PlaySpecialMusicOrNothing(MUS_BRIEFING);
 
         flushperms();
         setview(0,0,xdim-1,ydim-1);
@@ -1937,14 +1934,14 @@ int G_EnterLevel(int gameMode)
 
     if (ud.recstat != 2)
     {
-        if (g_mapInfo[mii].musicfn != NULL &&
-                (g_mapInfo[g_musicIndex].musicfn == NULL ||
-                Bstrcmp(g_mapInfo[g_musicIndex].musicfn, g_mapInfo[mii].musicfn) ||
-                g_musicSize == 0 ||
-                ud.last_level == -1))
-            S_PlayMusic(g_mapInfo[mii].musicfn);
-
-        g_musicIndex = mii;
+        if (g_mapInfo[g_musicIndex].musicfn == NULL ||
+            g_mapInfo[mii].musicfn == NULL || // intentional, to pass control further while avoiding the strcmp on null
+            strcmp(g_mapInfo[g_musicIndex].musicfn, g_mapInfo[mii].musicfn) ||
+            g_musicSize == 0 ||
+            ud.last_level == -1)
+        {
+            S_PlayLevelMusicOrNothing(mii);
+        }
     }
 
     if (gameMode & (MODE_GAME|MODE_EOL))
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/savegame.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/savegame.cpp
index 4687cdfd9..65728ac04 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/savegame.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/savegame.cpp
@@ -2176,14 +2176,8 @@ static void postloadplayer(int32_t savegamep)
 
         if (ud.config.MusicToggle)
         {
-            if (g_mapInfo[musicIdx].musicfn != NULL &&
-                (musicIdx != g_musicIndex /* || g_mapInfo[MUS_LOADING].musicfn */))
-            {
-                S_StopMusic();
-
-                g_musicIndex = musicIdx;
-                S_PlayMusic(g_mapInfo[g_musicIndex].musicfn);
-            }
+            if (g_mapInfo[musicIdx].musicfn != NULL && musicIdx != g_musicIndex)
+                S_PlayLevelMusicOrNothing(musicIdx);
 
             S_PauseMusic(0);
         }
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/screens.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/screens.cpp
index 904a5de26..65cd7941e 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/screens.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/screens.cpp
@@ -1507,10 +1507,7 @@ void G_DisplayLogo(void)
         }
 
         if (logoflags & LOGO_PLAYMUSIC)
-        {
-            g_musicIndex = MUS_INTRO;
-            S_PlayMusic(g_mapInfo[g_musicIndex].musicfn);
-        }
+            S_PlaySpecialMusicOrNothing(MUS_INTRO);
 
         if (!NAM)
         {
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/sdlmusic.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/sdlmusic.cpp
index 459d04d98..9cb35d98e 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/sdlmusic.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/sdlmusic.cpp
@@ -408,6 +408,7 @@ static void sigchld_handler(int signo)
 int32_t MUSIC_PlaySong(char *song, int32_t loopflag)
 {
 //	initprintf("MUSIC_PlaySong");
+    // TODO: graceful failure
     MUSIC_StopSong();
 
     if (external_midi)
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/sounds.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/sounds.cpp
index 3dfd94d23..0fdaf7765 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/sounds.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/sounds.cpp
@@ -163,13 +163,11 @@ void S_RestartMusic(void)
 {
     if (ud.recstat != 2 && g_player[myconnectindex].ps->gm&MODE_GAME)
     {
-        if (g_mapInfo[g_musicIndex].musicfn != NULL)
-            S_PlayMusic(g_mapInfo[g_musicIndex].musicfn);
+        S_PlayLevelMusicOrNothing(g_musicIndex);
     }
-    else if (g_mapInfo[MUS_INTRO].musicfn != 0 && (G_GetLogoFlags() & LOGO_PLAYMUSIC))
+    else if (G_GetLogoFlags() & LOGO_PLAYMUSIC)
     {
-        g_musicIndex = MUS_INTRO;
-        S_PlayMusic(g_mapInfo[MUS_INTRO].musicfn);
+        S_PlaySpecialMusicOrNothing(MUS_INTRO);
     }
 }
 
@@ -186,62 +184,138 @@ void S_MenuSound(void)
         S_PlaySound(s);
 }
 
-int32_t S_PlayMusic(const char *fn)
+static int32_t S_PlayMusic(const char *fn)
 {
     if (!ud.config.MusicToggle || fn == NULL)
-        return 0;
+        return 1;
 
     int32_t fp = S_OpenAudio(fn, 0, 1);
     if (EDUKE32_PREDICT_FALSE(fp < 0))
     {
         OSD_Printf(OSD_ERROR "S_PlayMusic(): error: can't open \"%s\" for playback!\n",fn);
-        return 0;
+        return 2;
     }
 
-    S_StopMusic();
-
     int32_t MusicLen = kfilelength(fp);
 
     if (EDUKE32_PREDICT_FALSE(MusicLen < 4))
     {
         OSD_Printf(OSD_ERROR "S_PlayMusic(): error: empty music file \"%s\"\n", fn);
         kclose(fp);
-        return 0;
+        return 3;
     }
 
-    ALIGNED_FREE_AND_NULL(MusicPtr);  // in case the following allocation was never freed
-    MusicPtr = (char *)Xaligned_alloc(16, MusicLen);
-    g_musicSize = kread(fp, (char *)MusicPtr, MusicLen);
+    char * MyMusicPtr = (char *)Xaligned_alloc(16, MusicLen);
+    int MyMusicSize = kread(fp, MyMusicPtr, MusicLen);
 
-    if (EDUKE32_PREDICT_FALSE(g_musicSize != MusicLen))
+    if (EDUKE32_PREDICT_FALSE(MyMusicSize != MusicLen))
     {
         OSD_Printf(OSD_ERROR "S_PlayMusic(): error: read %d bytes from \"%s\", expected %d\n",
-                   g_musicSize, fn, MusicLen);
+                   MyMusicSize, fn, MusicLen);
         kclose(fp);
-        g_musicSize = 0;
-        return 0;
+        ALIGNED_FREE_AND_NULL(MyMusicPtr);
+        return 4;
     }
 
     kclose(fp);
 
-    if (!Bmemcmp(MusicPtr, "MThd", 4))
+    if (!Bmemcmp(MyMusicPtr, "MThd", 4))
     {
-        MUSIC_PlaySong(MusicPtr, MUSIC_LoopSong);
+        int32_t retval = MUSIC_PlaySong(MyMusicPtr, MUSIC_LoopSong);
+
+        if (retval != MUSIC_Ok)
+        {
+            ALIGNED_FREE_AND_NULL(MyMusicPtr);
+            return 5;
+        }
+
+        if (MusicIsWaveform && MusicVoice >= 0)
+        {
+            FX_StopSound(MusicVoice);
+            MusicVoice = -1;
+        }
+
         MusicIsWaveform = 0;
+        ALIGNED_FREE_AND_NULL(MusicPtr);
+        MusicPtr = MyMusicPtr;
+        g_musicSize = MyMusicSize;
     }
     else
     {
         int32_t const mvol = MASTER_VOLUME(ud.config.MusicVolume);
-        MusicVoice = FX_Play(MusicPtr, MusicLen, 0, 0,
+        int MyMusicVoice = FX_Play(MyMusicPtr, MusicLen, 0, 0,
                                        0, mvol, mvol, mvol,
                                        FX_MUSIC_PRIORITY, MUSIC_ID);
-        if (MusicVoice > FX_Ok)
-            MusicIsWaveform = 1;
+
+        if (MyMusicVoice <= FX_Ok)
+        {
+            ALIGNED_FREE_AND_NULL(MyMusicPtr);
+            return 5;
+        }
+
+        if (MusicIsWaveform && MusicVoice >= 0)
+            FX_StopSound(MusicVoice);
+
+        MUSIC_StopSong();
+
+        MusicVoice = MyMusicVoice;
+        MusicIsWaveform = 1;
+        ALIGNED_FREE_AND_NULL(MusicPtr);
+        MusicPtr = MyMusicPtr;
+        g_musicSize = MyMusicSize;
     }
 
     return 0;
 }
 
+int S_TryPlayLevelMusic(unsigned int m)
+{
+    char const * musicfn = g_mapInfo[m].musicfn;
+    if (musicfn != NULL)
+    {
+        if (!S_PlayMusic(musicfn))
+        {
+            g_musicIndex = m;
+            return 0;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return 1;
+}
+
+void S_PlayLevelMusicOrNothing(unsigned int m)
+{
+    if (S_TryPlayLevelMusic(m))
+    {
+        S_StopMusic();
+        g_musicIndex = m;
+    }
+}
+
+int S_TryPlaySpecialMusic(unsigned int m)
+{
+    char const * musicfn = g_mapInfo[m].musicfn;
+    if (musicfn != NULL)
+    {
+        if (!S_PlayMusic(musicfn))
+        {
+            g_musicIndex = m;
+            return 0;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return 1;
+}
+
+void S_PlaySpecialMusicOrNothing(unsigned int m)
+{
+    if (S_TryPlaySpecialMusic(m))
+    {
+        S_StopMusic();
+        g_musicIndex = m;
+    }
+}
+
 int32_t S_GetMusicPosition(void)
 {
     int32_t position = 0;
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/sounds.h b/source/duke3d/src/sounds.h
index 29a491c94..8cd2e3f79 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/sounds.h
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/sounds.h
@@ -96,7 +96,10 @@ void S_MusicVolume(int32_t volume);
 void S_RestartMusic(void);
 void S_PauseMusic(int32_t onf);
 void S_PauseSounds(int32_t onf);
-int32_t S_PlayMusic(const char *fn);
+int S_TryPlayLevelMusic(unsigned int);
+void S_PlayLevelMusicOrNothing(unsigned int);
+int S_TryPlaySpecialMusic(unsigned int);
+void S_PlaySpecialMusicOrNothing(unsigned int);
 int32_t S_PlaySound(int32_t num);
 int32_t S_PlaySound3D(int32_t num,int32_t i,const vec3_t *pos);
 void S_SoundShutdown(void);