diff --git a/channels/chan_oss.c b/channels/chan_oss.c
index 4e4b4aa586b3d1eefca20dfbb265824f59229d59..0219e360dddeac42bcf7fb3749ba2d6fe4707fdf 100755
--- a/channels/chan_oss.c
+++ b/channels/chan_oss.c
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ static struct timeval lasttime;
 static int usecnt;
 static int silencesuppression = 0;
 static int silencethreshold = 1000;
+static int playbackonly = 0;
 
 
 AST_MUTEX_DEFINE_STATIC(usecnt_lock);
@@ -565,9 +566,11 @@ static int oss_write(struct ast_channel *chan, struct ast_frame *f)
 		return 0;
 	/* Stop any currently playing sound */
 	cursound = -1;
-	if (!full_duplex) {
+	if (!full_duplex && !playbackonly) {
 		/* If we're half duplex, we have to switch to read mode
-		   to honor immediate needs if necessary */
+		   to honor immediate needs if necessary.  But if we are in play
+		   back only mode, then we don't switch because the console
+		   is only being used one way -- just to playback something. */
 		res = soundcard_setinput(1);
 		if (res < 0) {
 			ast_log(LOG_WARNING, "Unable to set device to input mode\n");
@@ -1038,6 +1041,8 @@ int load_module()
 				strncpy(language, v->value, sizeof(language)-1);
 			else if (!strcasecmp(v->name, "extension"))
 				strncpy(exten, v->value, sizeof(exten)-1);
+			else if (!strcasecmp(v->name, "playbackonly"))
+				playbackonly = ast_true(v->value);
 			v=v->next;
 		}
 		ast_destroy(cfg);
diff --git a/configs/oss.conf.sample b/configs/oss.conf.sample
index 25c89ab4bf4bd7d2ee95ea73dc07b0704e5589f2..9d605ceb5a1be227791d467bcf9d2f6149ca959a 100755
--- a/configs/oss.conf.sample
+++ b/configs/oss.conf.sample
@@ -25,3 +25,10 @@ extension=s
 ; but your mileage may vary.  Use the echo test to evaluate the best setting.
 ;silencesuppression = yes
 ;silencethreshold = 1000
+;
+; On half-duplex cards, the driver attempts to switch back and forth between
+; read and write modes.  Unfortunately, this fails sometimes on older hardware.
+; To prevent the driver from switching (ie. only play files on your speakers),
+; then set the playbackonly option to yes.  Default is no.  Note this option has
+; no effect on full-duplex cards.
+;playbackonly=no