diff --git a/server/streamreader/posix_stream.cpp b/server/streamreader/posix_stream.cpp
index 23fb3951..c28c2ef3 100644
--- a/server/streamreader/posix_stream.cpp
+++ b/server/streamreader/posix_stream.cpp
@@ -96,7 +96,10 @@ void PosixStream::do_read()
             {
                 // no data available, fill with silence
                 memset(chunk_->payload + len, 0, toRead - len);
-                idle_bytes_ += toRead - len;
+
+                // avoid overflow after 186min 24s silence (at 48000:16:2) 
+                if (idle_bytes_ <= max_idle_bytes_)
+                    idle_bytes_ += toRead - len;
                 break;
             }
             else if (count == 0)