diff --git a/common/main/digi.h b/common/main/digi.h
index 0979e1854..85df179ba 100644
--- a/common/main/digi.h
+++ b/common/main/digi.h
@@ -138,9 +138,8 @@ extern void digi_start_sound_queued( short soundnum, fix volume );
 extern int digi_volume;
 #if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_I)
 extern int digi_sample_rate;
-#elif defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
-extern int Dont_start_sound_objects;
 #endif
+extern int Dont_start_sound_objects;
 extern int SoundQ_channel;
 void digi_select_system();
 
diff --git a/similar/main/digiobj.cpp b/similar/main/digiobj.cpp
index 9c72f4a32..af163c431 100644
--- a/similar/main/digiobj.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/digiobj.cpp
@@ -333,10 +333,8 @@ static void digi_unpause_looping_sound()
 	digi_play_sample_looping_sub();
 }
 
-#if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
 //hack to not start object when loading level
 int Dont_start_sound_objects = 0;
-#endif
 
 static void digi_start_sound_object(sound_object &s)
 {
@@ -346,10 +344,8 @@ static void digi_start_sound_object(sound_object &s)
 	if ( s.volume <= 0 )
 		return;
 
-#if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
 	if ( Dont_start_sound_objects )
 		return;
-#endif
 
 	// only use up to half the sound channels for "permanent" sounts
 	if ((s.flags & SOF_PERMANENT) && (N_active_sound_objects >= max(1, digi_max_channels / 4)))
@@ -378,13 +374,11 @@ static void digi_link_sound_common(const object_base &viewer, sound_object &so,
 	so.max_distance = max_distance;
 	so.volume = 0;
 	so.pan = 0;
-#if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
 	if (Dont_start_sound_objects) {		//started at level start
 		so.flags |= SOF_PERMANENT;
 		so.channel =  -1;
 	}
 	else
-#endif
 	{
 		digi_get_sound_loc(viewer.orient, viewer.pos, segnum.absolute_sibling(viewer.segnum),
                        pos, segnum, so.max_volume,
diff --git a/similar/main/gameseq.cpp b/similar/main/gameseq.cpp
index 2c2050c48..922b8b91f 100644
--- a/similar/main/gameseq.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/gameseq.cpp
@@ -760,8 +760,8 @@ static void set_sound_sources(fvcsegptridx &vcsegptridx, fvcvertptr &vcvertptr)
 #if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
 	auto &Walls = LevelUniqueWallSubsystemState.Walls;
 	auto &vcwallptr = Walls.vcptr;
-	Dont_start_sound_objects = 1;
 #endif
+	Dont_start_sound_objects = 1;
 
 	const auto get_eclip_for_tmap = [](const d_level_unique_tmap_info_state::TmapInfo_array &TmapInfo, const unique_side &side) {
 		if (const auto tm2 = side.tmap_num2)
@@ -819,10 +819,7 @@ static void set_sound_sources(fvcsegptridx &vcsegptridx, fvcvertptr &vcvertptr)
 			}
 		}
 	}
-
-#if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
 	Dont_start_sound_objects = 0;
-#endif
 }
 
 constexpr fix flash_dist=fl2f(.9);