diff --git a/include/hw/compat.h b/include/hw/compat.h
index 13242b831a..dced6d81bf 100644
--- a/include/hw/compat.h
+++ b/include/hw/compat.h
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 #ifndef HW_COMPAT_H
 #define HW_COMPAT_H
 
+#define HW_COMPAT_2_12 \
+    {\
+        .driver   = "hda-audio",\
+        .property = "use-timer",\
+        .value    = "false",\
+    },
+
 #define HW_COMPAT_2_11 \
     {\
         .driver   = "hpet",\
diff --git a/hw/audio/hda-codec.c b/hw/audio/hda-codec.c
index e8aa7842e6..9ee2f3d55f 100644
--- a/hw/audio/hda-codec.c
+++ b/hw/audio/hda-codec.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "qemu/osdep.h"
+#include "qemu/atomic.h"
 #include "hw/hw.h"
 #include "hw/pci/pci.h"
 #include "intel-hda.h"
@@ -126,6 +127,11 @@ static void hda_codec_parse_fmt(uint32_t format, struct audsettings *as)
 #define   PARAM nomixemu
 #include  "hda-codec-common.h"
 
+#define HDA_TIMER_TICKS (SCALE_MS)
+#define MAX_CORR (SCALE_US * 100)
+#define B_SIZE sizeof(st->buf)
+#define B_MASK (sizeof(st->buf) - 1)
+
 /* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
 static const char *fmt2name[] = {
@@ -154,8 +160,13 @@ struct HDAAudioStream {
         SWVoiceIn *in;
         SWVoiceOut *out;
     } voice;
-    uint8_t buf[HDA_BUFFER_SIZE];
-    uint32_t bpos;
+    uint8_t compat_buf[HDA_BUFFER_SIZE];
+    uint32_t compat_bpos;
+    uint8_t buf[8192]; /* size must be power of two */
+    int64_t rpos;
+    int64_t wpos;
+    QEMUTimer *buft;
+    int64_t buft_start;
 };
 
 #define TYPE_HDA_AUDIO "hda-audio"
@@ -174,55 +185,201 @@ struct HDAAudioState {
     /* properties */
     uint32_t debug;
     bool     mixer;
+    bool     use_timer;
 };
 
+static inline int64_t hda_bytes_per_second(HDAAudioStream *st)
+{
+    return 2 * st->as.nchannels * st->as.freq;
+}
+
+static inline void hda_timer_sync_adjust(HDAAudioStream *st, int64_t target_pos)
+{
+    int64_t corr =
+        NANOSECONDS_PER_SECOND * target_pos / hda_bytes_per_second(st);
+    if (corr > MAX_CORR) {
+        corr = MAX_CORR;
+    } else if (corr < -MAX_CORR) {
+        corr = -MAX_CORR;
+    }
+    atomic_fetch_add(&st->buft_start, corr);
+}
+
+static void hda_audio_input_timer(void *opaque)
+{
+    HDAAudioStream *st = opaque;
+
+    int64_t now = qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);
+
+    int64_t buft_start = atomic_fetch_add(&st->buft_start, 0);
+    int64_t wpos = atomic_fetch_add(&st->wpos, 0);
+    int64_t rpos = atomic_fetch_add(&st->rpos, 0);
+
+    int64_t wanted_rpos = hda_bytes_per_second(st) * (now - buft_start)
+                          / NANOSECONDS_PER_SECOND;
+    wanted_rpos &= -4; /* IMPORTANT! clip to frames */
+
+    if (wanted_rpos <= rpos) {
+        /* we already transmitted the data */
+        goto out_timer;
+    }
+
+    int64_t to_transfer = audio_MIN(wpos - rpos, wanted_rpos - rpos);
+    while (to_transfer) {
+        uint32_t start = (rpos & B_MASK);
+        uint32_t chunk = audio_MIN(B_SIZE - start, to_transfer);
+        int rc = hda_codec_xfer(
+                &st->state->hda, st->stream, false, st->buf + start, chunk);
+        if (!rc) {
+            break;
+        }
+        rpos += chunk;
+        to_transfer -= chunk;
+        atomic_fetch_add(&st->rpos, chunk);
+    }
+
+out_timer:
+
+    if (st->running) {
+        timer_mod_anticipate_ns(st->buft, now + HDA_TIMER_TICKS);
+    }
+}
+
 static void hda_audio_input_cb(void *opaque, int avail)
 {
     HDAAudioStream *st = opaque;
+
+    int64_t wpos = atomic_fetch_add(&st->wpos, 0);
+    int64_t rpos = atomic_fetch_add(&st->rpos, 0);
+
+    int64_t to_transfer = audio_MIN(B_SIZE - (wpos - rpos), avail);
+
+    hda_timer_sync_adjust(st, -((wpos - rpos) + to_transfer - (B_SIZE >> 1)));
+
+    while (to_transfer) {
+        uint32_t start = (uint32_t) (wpos & B_MASK);
+        uint32_t chunk = (uint32_t) audio_MIN(B_SIZE - start, to_transfer);
+        uint32_t read = AUD_read(st->voice.in, st->buf + start, chunk);
+        wpos += read;
+        to_transfer -= read;
+        atomic_fetch_add(&st->wpos, read);
+        if (chunk != read) {
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+static void hda_audio_output_timer(void *opaque)
+{
+    HDAAudioStream *st = opaque;
+
+    int64_t now = qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);
+
+    int64_t buft_start = atomic_fetch_add(&st->buft_start, 0);
+    int64_t wpos = atomic_fetch_add(&st->wpos, 0);
+    int64_t rpos = atomic_fetch_add(&st->rpos, 0);
+
+    int64_t wanted_wpos = hda_bytes_per_second(st) * (now - buft_start)
+                          / NANOSECONDS_PER_SECOND;
+    wanted_wpos &= -4; /* IMPORTANT! clip to frames */
+
+    if (wanted_wpos <= wpos) {
+        /* we already received the data */
+        goto out_timer;
+    }
+
+    int64_t to_transfer = audio_MIN(B_SIZE - (wpos - rpos), wanted_wpos - wpos);
+    while (to_transfer) {
+        uint32_t start = (wpos & B_MASK);
+        uint32_t chunk = audio_MIN(B_SIZE - start, to_transfer);
+        int rc = hda_codec_xfer(
+                &st->state->hda, st->stream, true, st->buf + start, chunk);
+        if (!rc) {
+            break;
+        }
+        wpos += chunk;
+        to_transfer -= chunk;
+        atomic_fetch_add(&st->wpos, chunk);
+    }
+
+out_timer:
+
+    if (st->running) {
+        timer_mod_anticipate_ns(st->buft, now + HDA_TIMER_TICKS);
+    }
+}
+
+static void hda_audio_output_cb(void *opaque, int avail)
+{
+    HDAAudioStream *st = opaque;
+
+    int64_t wpos = atomic_fetch_add(&st->wpos, 0);
+    int64_t rpos = atomic_fetch_add(&st->rpos, 0);
+
+    int64_t to_transfer = audio_MIN(wpos - rpos, avail);
+
+    hda_timer_sync_adjust(st, (wpos - rpos) - to_transfer - (B_SIZE >> 1));
+
+    while (to_transfer) {
+        uint32_t start = (uint32_t) (rpos & B_MASK);
+        uint32_t chunk = (uint32_t) audio_MIN(B_SIZE - start, to_transfer);
+        uint32_t written = AUD_write(st->voice.out, st->buf + start, chunk);
+        rpos += written;
+        to_transfer -= written;
+        atomic_fetch_add(&st->rpos, written);
+        if (chunk != written) {
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+static void hda_audio_compat_input_cb(void *opaque, int avail)
+{
+    HDAAudioStream *st = opaque;
     int recv = 0;
     int len;
     bool rc;
 
-    while (avail - recv >= sizeof(st->buf)) {
-        if (st->bpos != sizeof(st->buf)) {
-            len = AUD_read(st->voice.in, st->buf + st->bpos,
-                           sizeof(st->buf) - st->bpos);
-            st->bpos += len;
+    while (avail - recv >= sizeof(st->compat_buf)) {
+        if (st->compat_bpos != sizeof(st->compat_buf)) {
+            len = AUD_read(st->voice.in, st->compat_buf + st->compat_bpos,
+                           sizeof(st->compat_buf) - st->compat_bpos);
+            st->compat_bpos += len;
             recv += len;
-            if (st->bpos != sizeof(st->buf)) {
+            if (st->compat_bpos != sizeof(st->compat_buf)) {
                 break;
             }
         }
         rc = hda_codec_xfer(&st->state->hda, st->stream, false,
-                            st->buf, sizeof(st->buf));
+                            st->compat_buf, sizeof(st->compat_buf));
         if (!rc) {
             break;
         }
-        st->bpos = 0;
+        st->compat_bpos = 0;
     }
 }
 
-static void hda_audio_output_cb(void *opaque, int avail)
+static void hda_audio_compat_output_cb(void *opaque, int avail)
 {
     HDAAudioStream *st = opaque;
     int sent = 0;
     int len;
     bool rc;
 
-    while (avail - sent >= sizeof(st->buf)) {
-        if (st->bpos == sizeof(st->buf)) {
+    while (avail - sent >= sizeof(st->compat_buf)) {
+        if (st->compat_bpos == sizeof(st->compat_buf)) {
             rc = hda_codec_xfer(&st->state->hda, st->stream, true,
-                                st->buf, sizeof(st->buf));
+                                st->compat_buf, sizeof(st->compat_buf));
             if (!rc) {
                 break;
             }
-            st->bpos = 0;
+            st->compat_bpos = 0;
         }
-        len = AUD_write(st->voice.out, st->buf + st->bpos,
-                        sizeof(st->buf) - st->bpos);
-        st->bpos += len;
+        len = AUD_write(st->voice.out, st->compat_buf + st->compat_bpos,
+                        sizeof(st->compat_buf) - st->compat_bpos);
+        st->compat_bpos += len;
         sent += len;
-        if (st->bpos != sizeof(st->buf)) {
+        if (st->compat_bpos != sizeof(st->compat_buf)) {
             break;
         }
     }
@@ -239,6 +396,17 @@ static void hda_audio_set_running(HDAAudioStream *st, bool running)
     st->running = running;
     dprint(st->state, 1, "%s: %s (stream %d)\n", st->node->name,
            st->running ? "on" : "off", st->stream);
+    if (st->state->use_timer) {
+        if (running) {
+            int64_t now = qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);
+            st->rpos = 0;
+            st->wpos = 0;
+            st->buft_start = now;
+            timer_mod_anticipate_ns(st->buft, now + HDA_TIMER_TICKS);
+        } else {
+            timer_del(st->buft);
+        }
+    }
     if (st->output) {
         AUD_set_active_out(st->voice.out, st->running);
     } else {
@@ -274,6 +442,9 @@ static void hda_audio_set_amp(HDAAudioStream *st)
 
 static void hda_audio_setup(HDAAudioStream *st)
 {
+    bool use_timer = st->state->use_timer;
+    audio_callback_fn cb;
+
     if (st->node == NULL) {
         return;
     }
@@ -283,13 +454,25 @@ static void hda_audio_setup(HDAAudioStream *st)
            fmt2name[st->as.fmt], st->as.freq);
 
     if (st->output) {
+        if (use_timer) {
+            cb = hda_audio_output_cb;
+            st->buft = timer_new_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL,
+                                    hda_audio_output_timer, st);
+        } else {
+            cb = hda_audio_compat_output_cb;
+        }
         st->voice.out = AUD_open_out(&st->state->card, st->voice.out,
-                                     st->node->name, st,
-                                     hda_audio_output_cb, &st->as);
+                                     st->node->name, st, cb, &st->as);
     } else {
+        if (use_timer) {
+            cb = hda_audio_input_cb;
+            st->buft = timer_new_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL,
+                                    hda_audio_input_timer, st);
+        } else {
+            cb = hda_audio_compat_input_cb;
+        }
         st->voice.in = AUD_open_in(&st->state->card, st->voice.in,
-                                   st->node->name, st,
-                                   hda_audio_input_cb, &st->as);
+                                   st->node->name, st, cb, &st->as);
     }
 }
 
@@ -505,7 +688,7 @@ static int hda_audio_init(HDACodecDevice *hda, const struct desc_codec *desc)
                 /* unmute output by default */
                 st->gain_left = QEMU_HDA_AMP_STEPS;
                 st->gain_right = QEMU_HDA_AMP_STEPS;
-                st->bpos = sizeof(st->buf);
+                st->compat_bpos = sizeof(st->compat_buf);
                 st->output = true;
             } else {
                 st->output = false;
@@ -532,6 +715,9 @@ static void hda_audio_exit(HDACodecDevice *hda)
         if (st->node == NULL) {
             continue;
         }
+        if (a->use_timer) {
+            timer_del(st->buft);
+        }
         if (st->output) {
             AUD_close_out(&a->card, st->voice.out);
         } else {
@@ -581,6 +767,26 @@ static void hda_audio_reset(DeviceState *dev)
     }
 }
 
+static bool vmstate_hda_audio_stream_buf_needed(void *opaque)
+{
+    HDAAudioStream *st = opaque;
+    return st->state->use_timer;
+}
+
+static const VMStateDescription vmstate_hda_audio_stream_buf = {
+    .name = "hda-audio-stream/buffer",
+    .version_id = 1,
+    .needed = vmstate_hda_audio_stream_buf_needed,
+    .fields = (VMStateField[]) {
+        VMSTATE_BUFFER(buf, HDAAudioStream),
+        VMSTATE_INT64(rpos, HDAAudioStream),
+        VMSTATE_INT64(wpos, HDAAudioStream),
+        VMSTATE_TIMER_PTR(buft, HDAAudioStream),
+        VMSTATE_INT64(buft_start, HDAAudioStream),
+        VMSTATE_END_OF_LIST()
+    }
+};
+
 static const VMStateDescription vmstate_hda_audio_stream = {
     .name = "hda-audio-stream",
     .version_id = 1,
@@ -592,9 +798,13 @@ static const VMStateDescription vmstate_hda_audio_stream = {
         VMSTATE_UINT32(gain_right, HDAAudioStream),
         VMSTATE_BOOL(mute_left, HDAAudioStream),
         VMSTATE_BOOL(mute_right, HDAAudioStream),
-        VMSTATE_UINT32(bpos, HDAAudioStream),
-        VMSTATE_BUFFER(buf, HDAAudioStream),
+        VMSTATE_UINT32(compat_bpos, HDAAudioStream),
+        VMSTATE_BUFFER(compat_buf, HDAAudioStream),
         VMSTATE_END_OF_LIST()
+    },
+    .subsections = (const VMStateDescription * []) {
+        &vmstate_hda_audio_stream_buf,
+        NULL
     }
 };
 
@@ -615,6 +825,7 @@ static const VMStateDescription vmstate_hda_audio = {
 static Property hda_audio_properties[] = {
     DEFINE_PROP_UINT32("debug", HDAAudioState, debug,   0),
     DEFINE_PROP_BOOL("mixer", HDAAudioState, mixer,  true),
+    DEFINE_PROP_BOOL("use-timer", HDAAudioState, use_timer,  true),
     DEFINE_PROP_END_OF_LIST(),
 };
 
diff --git a/hw/audio/intel-hda.c b/hw/audio/intel-hda.c
index 948268afd8..23a2cf6484 100644
--- a/hw/audio/intel-hda.c
+++ b/hw/audio/intel-hda.c
@@ -407,13 +407,6 @@ static bool intel_hda_xfer(HDACodecDevice *dev, uint32_t stnr, bool output,
     if (st->bpl == NULL) {
         return false;
     }
-    if (st->ctl & (1 << 26)) {
-        /*
-         * Wait with the next DMA xfer until the guest
-         * has acked the buffer completion interrupt
-         */
-        return false;
-    }
 
     left = len;
     s = st->bentries;
