diff --git a/stepmania/src/arch/Sound/RageSoundDriver_DSound_Software.cpp b/stepmania/src/arch/Sound/RageSoundDriver_DSound_Software.cpp
index 63917fb4e3..546099eed6 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/arch/Sound/RageSoundDriver_DSound_Software.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/arch/Sound/RageSoundDriver_DSound_Software.cpp
@@ -166,6 +166,11 @@ RageSound_DSound_Software::RageSound_DSound_Software()
 	/* XXX make another exception type that doesn't trigger debug stuff
 	 * and use that */
 
+	/* If we're emulated, we're better off with the WaveOut driver; DS
+	 * emulation tends to be desynced. */
+	if(ds.IsEmulated())
+		throw "Driver unusable (emulated device)";
+
 	/* Create a DirectSound stream, but don't force it into hardware. */
 	str_ds = new DSoundBuf(ds, 
 		DSoundBuf::HW_DONT_CARE,