diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
index 4ed82ed570..7834fc2130 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
@@ -7602,6 +7602,10 @@ qemuBuildAudioCommandLineArg(virCommand *cmd,
                       def->id,
                       qemuAudioDriverTypeToString(def->type));
 
+    if (def->timerPeriod)
+        virBufferAsprintf(&buf, ",timer-period=%u",
+                          def->timerPeriod);
+
     qemuBuildAudioCommonArg(&buf, "in", &def->input);
     qemuBuildAudioCommonArg(&buf, "out", &def->output);
 
@@ -7791,6 +7795,10 @@ qemuBuildAudioCommandLineEnv(virCommand *cmd,
     virCommandAddEnvPair(cmd, "QEMU_AUDIO_DRV",
                          qemuAudioDriverTypeToString(audio->type));
 
+    if (audio->timerPeriod)
+        virCommandAddEnvFormat(cmd, "QEMU_AUDIO_TIMER_PERIOD=%u",
+                               audio->timerPeriod);
+
     qemuBuildAudioCommonEnv(cmd, "QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_", &audio->input);
     qemuBuildAudioCommonEnv(cmd, "QEMU_AUDIO_DAC_", &audio->output);
 
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-alsa-best.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-alsa-best.args
index 6db6d3739f..89b0faed0d 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-alsa-best.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-alsa-best.args
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ XDG_DATA_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.local/share \
 XDG_CACHE_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.cache \
 XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=alsa \
+QEMU_AUDIO_TIMER_PERIOD=50 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_SETTINGS=on \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_VOICES=1 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_FREQ=44100 \
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-alsa-best.x86_64-latest.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-alsa-best.x86_64-latest.args
index 9a4456e908..0fd84746db 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-alsa-best.x86_64-latest.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-alsa-best.x86_64-latest.args
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 -blockdev '{"driver":"host_cdrom","filename":"/dev/cdrom","node-name":"libvirt-1-storage","auto-read-only":true,"discard":"unmap"}' \
 -blockdev '{"node-name":"libvirt-1-format","read-only":true,"driver":"raw","file":"libvirt-1-storage"}' \
 -device ide-cd,bus=ide.1,unit=0,drive=libvirt-1-format,id=ide0-1-0,bootindex=1 \
--audiodev id=audio1,driver=alsa,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32,in.dev=/dev/dsp0,out.dev=/dev/dsp1 \
+-audiodev id=audio1,driver=alsa,timer-period=50,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32,in.dev=/dev/dsp0,out.dev=/dev/dsp1 \
 -sandbox on,obsolete=deny,elevateprivileges=deny,spawn=deny,resourcecontrol=deny \
 -msg timestamp=on
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-alsa-best.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-alsa-best.xml
index 1a6d5f4d9f..8fe7b2fe88 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-alsa-best.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-alsa-best.xml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     <controller type='pci' index='0' model='pci-root'/>
     <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
     <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
-    <audio id='1' type='alsa'>
+    <audio id='1' type='alsa' timerPeriod='50'>
       <input mixingEngine='yes' fixedSettings='yes' voices='1' dev='/dev/dsp0'>
         <settings frequency='44100' channels='2' format='s16'/>
       </input>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-coreaudio-best.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-coreaudio-best.args
index 2e12e21c2b..1e93de83f3 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-coreaudio-best.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-coreaudio-best.args
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ XDG_DATA_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.local/share \
 XDG_CACHE_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.cache \
 XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=coreaudio \
+QEMU_AUDIO_TIMER_PERIOD=50 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_SETTINGS=on \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_VOICES=1 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_FREQ=44100 \
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-coreaudio-best.x86_64-latest.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-coreaudio-best.x86_64-latest.args
index c3d3792c8c..3d8b6f33ae 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-coreaudio-best.x86_64-latest.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-coreaudio-best.x86_64-latest.args
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 -blockdev '{"driver":"host_cdrom","filename":"/dev/cdrom","node-name":"libvirt-1-storage","auto-read-only":true,"discard":"unmap"}' \
 -blockdev '{"node-name":"libvirt-1-format","read-only":true,"driver":"raw","file":"libvirt-1-storage"}' \
 -device ide-cd,bus=ide.1,unit=0,drive=libvirt-1-format,id=ide0-1-0,bootindex=1 \
--audiodev id=audio1,driver=coreaudio,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.buffer-length=200,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32,out.buffer-count=42 \
+-audiodev id=audio1,driver=coreaudio,timer-period=50,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.buffer-length=200,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32,out.buffer-count=42 \
 -sandbox on,obsolete=deny,elevateprivileges=deny,spawn=deny,resourcecontrol=deny \
 -msg timestamp=on
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-coreaudio-best.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-coreaudio-best.xml
index 66c52bb24c..95dfb1247b 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-coreaudio-best.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-coreaudio-best.xml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     <controller type='pci' index='0' model='pci-root'/>
     <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
     <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
-    <audio id='1' type='coreaudio'>
+    <audio id='1' type='coreaudio' timerPeriod='50'>
       <input mixingEngine='yes' fixedSettings='yes' voices='1'>
         <settings frequency='44100' channels='2' format='s16'/>
       </input>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-file-best.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-file-best.args
index 8b520ef368..8c9dc220d1 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-file-best.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-file-best.args
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ XDG_DATA_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.local/share \
 XDG_CACHE_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.cache \
 XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=wav \
+QEMU_AUDIO_TIMER_PERIOD=50 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_SETTINGS=on \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_VOICES=1 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_FREQ=44100 \
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-file-best.x86_64-latest.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-file-best.x86_64-latest.args
index b92c0ca20d..ff48527de6 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-file-best.x86_64-latest.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-file-best.x86_64-latest.args
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 -blockdev '{"driver":"host_cdrom","filename":"/dev/cdrom","node-name":"libvirt-1-storage","auto-read-only":true,"discard":"unmap"}' \
 -blockdev '{"node-name":"libvirt-1-format","read-only":true,"driver":"raw","file":"libvirt-1-storage"}' \
 -device ide-cd,bus=ide.1,unit=0,drive=libvirt-1-format,id=ide0-1-0,bootindex=1 \
--audiodev id=audio1,driver=wav,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32,path=audio.wav \
+-audiodev id=audio1,driver=wav,timer-period=50,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32,path=audio.wav \
 -sandbox on,obsolete=deny,elevateprivileges=deny,spawn=deny,resourcecontrol=deny \
 -msg timestamp=on
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-file-best.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-file-best.xml
index 3bd02c3f37..87d5607915 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-file-best.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-file-best.xml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     <controller type='pci' index='0' model='pci-root'/>
     <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
     <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
-    <audio id='1' type='file' path='audio.wav'>
+    <audio id='1' type='file' timerPeriod='50' path='audio.wav'>
       <input mixingEngine='yes' fixedSettings='yes' voices='1'>
         <settings frequency='44100' channels='2' format='s16'/>
       </input>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-none-best.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-none-best.args
index 2f95ff5bfb..f75701dccd 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-none-best.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-none-best.args
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ XDG_DATA_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.local/share \
 XDG_CACHE_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.cache \
 XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=none \
+QEMU_AUDIO_TIMER_PERIOD=50 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_SETTINGS=on \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_VOICES=1 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_FREQ=44100 \
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-none-best.x86_64-latest.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-none-best.x86_64-latest.args
index d80a47407b..feaa72ddbd 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-none-best.x86_64-latest.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-none-best.x86_64-latest.args
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 -blockdev '{"driver":"host_cdrom","filename":"/dev/cdrom","node-name":"libvirt-1-storage","auto-read-only":true,"discard":"unmap"}' \
 -blockdev '{"node-name":"libvirt-1-format","read-only":true,"driver":"raw","file":"libvirt-1-storage"}' \
 -device ide-cd,bus=ide.1,unit=0,drive=libvirt-1-format,id=ide0-1-0,bootindex=1 \
--audiodev id=audio1,driver=none,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32 \
+-audiodev id=audio1,driver=none,timer-period=50,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32 \
 -sandbox on,obsolete=deny,elevateprivileges=deny,spawn=deny,resourcecontrol=deny \
 -msg timestamp=on
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-none-best.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-none-best.xml
index df79f705ac..b867d20fb2 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-none-best.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-none-best.xml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     <controller type='pci' index='0' model='pci-root'/>
     <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
     <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
-    <audio id='1' type='none'>
+    <audio id='1' type='none' timerPeriod='50'>
       <input mixingEngine='yes' fixedSettings='yes' voices='1'>
         <settings frequency='44100' channels='2' format='s16'/>
       </input>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-oss-best.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-oss-best.args
index 0088a28094..acc66ab91f 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-oss-best.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-oss-best.args
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ XDG_DATA_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.local/share \
 XDG_CACHE_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.cache \
 XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=oss \
+QEMU_AUDIO_TIMER_PERIOD=50 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_SETTINGS=on \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_VOICES=1 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_FREQ=44100 \
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-oss-best.x86_64-latest.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-oss-best.x86_64-latest.args
index 4fd6091ca6..b66fa68bc8 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-oss-best.x86_64-latest.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-oss-best.x86_64-latest.args
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 -blockdev '{"driver":"host_cdrom","filename":"/dev/cdrom","node-name":"libvirt-1-storage","auto-read-only":true,"discard":"unmap"}' \
 -blockdev '{"node-name":"libvirt-1-format","read-only":true,"driver":"raw","file":"libvirt-1-storage"}' \
 -device ide-cd,bus=ide.1,unit=0,drive=libvirt-1-format,id=ide0-1-0,bootindex=1 \
--audiodev id=audio1,driver=oss,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32,in.dev=/dev/dsp0,in.buffer-count=30,in.try-poll=on,out.dev=/dev/dsp1,out.buffer-count=30,out.try-poll=off \
+-audiodev id=audio1,driver=oss,timer-period=50,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32,in.dev=/dev/dsp0,in.buffer-count=30,in.try-poll=on,out.dev=/dev/dsp1,out.buffer-count=30,out.try-poll=off \
 -sandbox on,obsolete=deny,elevateprivileges=deny,spawn=deny,resourcecontrol=deny \
 -msg timestamp=on
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-oss-best.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-oss-best.xml
index 0561724dbe..bf2fefdac2 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-oss-best.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-oss-best.xml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     <controller type='pci' index='0' model='pci-root'/>
     <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
     <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
-    <audio id='1' type='oss'>
+    <audio id='1' type='oss' timerPeriod='50'>
       <input mixingEngine='yes' fixedSettings='yes' voices='1' dev='/dev/dsp0' bufferCount='30' tryPoll='yes'>
         <settings frequency='44100' channels='2' format='s16'/>
       </input>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-pulseaudio-best.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-pulseaudio-best.args
index 767c87f2df..e22816777d 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-pulseaudio-best.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-pulseaudio-best.args
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ XDG_DATA_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.local/share \
 XDG_CACHE_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.cache \
 XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=pa \
+QEMU_AUDIO_TIMER_PERIOD=50 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_SETTINGS=on \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_VOICES=1 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_FREQ=44100 \
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-pulseaudio-best.x86_64-latest.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-pulseaudio-best.x86_64-latest.args
index 2044b89936..eabff7302f 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-pulseaudio-best.x86_64-latest.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-pulseaudio-best.x86_64-latest.args
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 -blockdev '{"driver":"host_cdrom","filename":"/dev/cdrom","node-name":"libvirt-1-storage","auto-read-only":true,"discard":"unmap"}' \
 -blockdev '{"node-name":"libvirt-1-format","read-only":true,"driver":"raw","file":"libvirt-1-storage"}' \
 -device ide-cd,bus=ide.1,unit=0,drive=libvirt-1-format,id=ide0-1-0,bootindex=1 \
--audiodev id=audio1,driver=pa,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.buffer-length=200,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.buffer-length=200,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32,in.name=fish,out.name=fish,server=acme.example.org \
+-audiodev id=audio1,driver=pa,timer-period=50,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.buffer-length=200,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.buffer-length=200,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32,in.name=fish,out.name=fish,server=acme.example.org \
 -sandbox on,obsolete=deny,elevateprivileges=deny,spawn=deny,resourcecontrol=deny \
 -msg timestamp=on
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-pulseaudio-best.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-pulseaudio-best.xml
index bfc4b92e9b..8fd1ca7497 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-pulseaudio-best.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-pulseaudio-best.xml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     <controller type='pci' index='0' model='pci-root'/>
     <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
     <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
-    <audio id='1' type='pulseaudio' serverName='acme.example.org'>
+    <audio id='1' type='pulseaudio' timerPeriod='50' serverName='acme.example.org'>
       <input mixingEngine='yes' fixedSettings='yes' voices='1' bufferLength='200' name='fish'>
         <settings frequency='44100' channels='2' format='s16'/>
       </input>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-sdl-best.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-sdl-best.args
index 75e6412825..5634d463e5 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-sdl-best.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-sdl-best.args
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ XDG_DATA_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.local/share \
 XDG_CACHE_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.cache \
 XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=sdl \
+QEMU_AUDIO_TIMER_PERIOD=50 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_SETTINGS=on \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_VOICES=1 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_FREQ=44100 \
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-sdl-best.x86_64-latest.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-sdl-best.x86_64-latest.args
index c4c60772a2..4c8d46598a 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-sdl-best.x86_64-latest.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-sdl-best.x86_64-latest.args
@@ -31,6 +31,6 @@ SDL_AUDIODRIVER=pulseaudio \
 -blockdev '{"driver":"host_cdrom","filename":"/dev/cdrom","node-name":"libvirt-1-storage","auto-read-only":true,"discard":"unmap"}' \
 -blockdev '{"node-name":"libvirt-1-format","read-only":true,"driver":"raw","file":"libvirt-1-storage"}' \
 -device ide-cd,bus=ide.1,unit=0,drive=libvirt-1-format,id=ide0-1-0,bootindex=1 \
--audiodev id=audio1,driver=sdl,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.buffer-length=200,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32 \
+-audiodev id=audio1,driver=sdl,timer-period=50,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.buffer-length=200,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32 \
 -sandbox on,obsolete=deny,elevateprivileges=deny,spawn=deny,resourcecontrol=deny \
 -msg timestamp=on
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-sdl-best.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-sdl-best.xml
index 29523590af..79917742f1 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-sdl-best.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-sdl-best.xml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     <controller type='pci' index='0' model='pci-root'/>
     <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
     <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
-    <audio id='1' type='sdl' driver='pulseaudio'>
+    <audio id='1' type='sdl' timerPeriod='50' driver='pulseaudio'>
       <input mixingEngine='yes' fixedSettings='yes' voices='1'>
         <settings frequency='44100' channels='2' format='s16'/>
       </input>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-spice-best.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-spice-best.args
index b295aef236..cdb4854816 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-spice-best.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-spice-best.args
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ XDG_DATA_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.local/share \
 XDG_CACHE_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.cache \
 XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=spice \
+QEMU_AUDIO_TIMER_PERIOD=50 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_SETTINGS=on \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_VOICES=1 \
 QEMU_AUDIO_ADC_FIXED_FREQ=44100 \
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-spice-best.x86_64-latest.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-spice-best.x86_64-latest.args
index 6f0c04d106..4b1d4a2ece 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-spice-best.x86_64-latest.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-spice-best.x86_64-latest.args
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/.config \
 -blockdev '{"driver":"host_cdrom","filename":"/dev/cdrom","node-name":"libvirt-1-storage","auto-read-only":true,"discard":"unmap"}' \
 -blockdev '{"node-name":"libvirt-1-format","read-only":true,"driver":"raw","file":"libvirt-1-storage"}' \
 -device ide-cd,bus=ide.1,unit=0,drive=libvirt-1-format,id=ide0-1-0,bootindex=1 \
--audiodev id=audio1,driver=spice,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32 \
+-audiodev id=audio1,driver=spice,timer-period=50,in.mixing-engine=on,in.fixed-settings=on,in.voices=1,in.frequency=44100,in.channels=2,in.format=s16,out.mixing-engine=on,out.fixed-settings=on,out.voices=2,out.frequency=22050,out.channels=4,out.format=f32 \
 -sandbox on,obsolete=deny,elevateprivileges=deny,spawn=deny,resourcecontrol=deny \
 -msg timestamp=on
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-spice-best.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-spice-best.xml
index a53586032a..8d203c9089 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-spice-best.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/audio-spice-best.xml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     <controller type='pci' index='0' model='pci-root'/>
     <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
     <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
-    <audio id='1' type='spice'>
+    <audio id='1' type='spice' timerPeriod='50'>
       <input mixingEngine='yes' fixedSettings='yes' voices='1'>
         <settings frequency='44100' channels='2' format='s16'/>
       </input>