diff --git a/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AlsaSoundStream.cpp b/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AlsaSoundStream.cpp
index 099a3dee35..2bcb4ddbfb 100644
--- a/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AlsaSoundStream.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AlsaSoundStream.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,11 @@
 #define BUFFER_SIZE_MAX 8192
 #define BUFFER_SIZE_BYTES (BUFFER_SIZE_MAX*2*2)
 
-AlsaSound::AlsaSound(CMixer *mixer) : SoundStream(mixer), thread_data(0), handle(nullptr), frames_to_deliver(FRAME_COUNT_MIN)
+AlsaSound::AlsaSound(CMixer *mixer)
+	: SoundStream(mixer)
+	, m_thread_status(ALSAThreadStatus::STOPPED)
+	, handle(nullptr)
+	, frames_to_deliver(FRAME_COUNT_MIN)
 {
 	mix_buffer = new u8[BUFFER_SIZE_BYTES];
 }
@@ -22,14 +26,14 @@ AlsaSound::~AlsaSound()
 
 bool AlsaSound::Start()
 {
+	m_thread_status.store(ALSAThreadStatus::RUNNING);
 	thread = std::thread(&AlsaSound::SoundLoop, this);
-	thread_data.store(0);
 	return true;
 }
 
 void AlsaSound::Stop()
 {
-	thread_data.store(1);
+	m_thread_status.store(ALSAThreadStatus::STOPPING);
 	thread.join();
 }
 
@@ -42,11 +46,11 @@ void AlsaSound::Update()
 void AlsaSound::SoundLoop()
 {
 	if (!AlsaInit()) {
-		thread_data.store(2);
+		m_thread_status.store(ALSAThreadStatus::STOPPED);
 		return;
 	}
 	Common::SetCurrentThreadName("Audio thread - alsa");
-	while (thread_data.load() == 0)
+	while (m_thread_status.load() == ALSAThreadStatus::RUNNING)
 	{
 		m_mixer->Mix(reinterpret_cast<short *>(mix_buffer), frames_to_deliver);
 		int rc = m_muted ? 1337 : snd_pcm_writei(handle, mix_buffer, frames_to_deliver);
@@ -61,7 +65,7 @@ void AlsaSound::SoundLoop()
 		}
 	}
 	AlsaShutdown();
-	thread_data.store(2);
+	m_thread_status.store(ALSAThreadStatus::STOPPED);
 }
 
 bool AlsaSound::AlsaInit()
diff --git a/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AlsaSoundStream.h b/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AlsaSoundStream.h
index 63b61fba90..bb317c26aa 100644
--- a/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AlsaSoundStream.h
+++ b/Source/Core/AudioCommon/AlsaSoundStream.h
@@ -33,15 +33,19 @@ public:
 	virtual void Update() override;
 
 private:
+	enum class ALSAThreadStatus
+	{
+		RUNNING,
+		STOPPING,
+		STOPPED,
+	};
+
 	bool AlsaInit();
 	void AlsaShutdown();
 
 	u8 *mix_buffer;
 	std::thread thread;
-	// 0 = continue
-	// 1 = shutdown
-	// 2 = done shutting down.
-	std::atomic<int> thread_data;
+	std::atomic<ALSAThreadStatus> m_thread_status;
 
 	snd_pcm_t *handle;
 	int frames_to_deliver;