diff --git a/sound/pci/rme9652/hdsp.c b/sound/pci/rme9652/hdsp.c
index 65add92c88aa..cd7bf4d7ca08 100644
--- a/sound/pci/rme9652/hdsp.c
+++ b/sound/pci/rme9652/hdsp.c
@@ -1298,8 +1298,10 @@ static int snd_hdsp_midi_output_possible (struct hdsp *hdsp, int id)
 
 static void snd_hdsp_flush_midi_input (struct hdsp *hdsp, int id)
 {
-	while (snd_hdsp_midi_input_available (hdsp, id))
-		snd_hdsp_midi_read_byte (hdsp, id);
+	int count = 256;
+
+	while (snd_hdsp_midi_input_available(hdsp, id) && --count)
+		snd_hdsp_midi_read_byte(hdsp, id);
 }
 
 static int snd_hdsp_midi_output_write (struct hdsp_midi *hmidi)
diff --git a/sound/pci/rme9652/hdspm.c b/sound/pci/rme9652/hdspm.c
index fa1812e7a49d..247f5c52fb09 100644
--- a/sound/pci/rme9652/hdspm.c
+++ b/sound/pci/rme9652/hdspm.c
@@ -1838,8 +1838,10 @@ static inline int snd_hdspm_midi_output_possible (struct hdspm *hdspm, int id)
 
 static void snd_hdspm_flush_midi_input(struct hdspm *hdspm, int id)
 {
-	while (snd_hdspm_midi_input_available (hdspm, id))
-		snd_hdspm_midi_read_byte (hdspm, id);
+	int count = 256;
+
+	while (snd_hdspm_midi_input_available(hdspm, id) && --count)
+		snd_hdspm_midi_read_byte(hdspm, id);
 }
 
 static int snd_hdspm_midi_output_write (struct hdspm_midi *hmidi)