diff --git a/src/d_clisrv.c b/src/d_clisrv.c
index 65cb6d067..f4102b48b 100644
--- a/src/d_clisrv.c
+++ b/src/d_clisrv.c
@@ -3960,6 +3960,9 @@ static void Got_AddPlayer(UINT8 **p, INT32 playernum)
 	playerconsole[newplayernum] = console;
 	G_BuildLocalSplitscreenParty(newplayernum);
 
+	if (node == mynode && splitscreenplayer == 0)
+		S_AttemptToRestoreMusic(); // Earliest viable point
+
 	if (netgame)
 	{
 		char joinmsg[256];
diff --git a/src/p_local.h b/src/p_local.h
index 98168afe2..3bc622743 100644
--- a/src/p_local.h
+++ b/src/p_local.h
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ boolean P_PlayerHitFloor(player_t *player, boolean fromAir, angle_t oldPitch, an
 
 void P_SetObjectMomZ(mobj_t *mo, fixed_t value, boolean relative);
 void P_RestoreMusic(player_t *player);
+void P_StartPositionMusic(boolean exact);
 void P_EndingMusic(void);
 mobj_t *P_SpawnGhostMobj(mobj_t *mobj);
 mobj_t *P_SpawnFakeShadow(mobj_t *mobj, UINT8 offset);
diff --git a/src/p_setup.c b/src/p_setup.c
index 31022b835..6ee45f218 100644
--- a/src/p_setup.c
+++ b/src/p_setup.c
@@ -8062,13 +8062,11 @@ boolean P_LoadLevel(boolean fromnetsave, boolean reloadinggamestate)
 
 		// Fade out music here. Deduct 2 tics so the fade volume actually reaches 0.
 		// But don't halt the music! S_Start will take care of that. This dodges a MIDI crash bug.
-		if (!(reloadinggamestate || gamestate != GS_LEVEL))
+		if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL)
 			S_FadeMusic(0, FixedMul(
 				FixedDiv((F_GetWipeLength(wipedefs[wipe_level_toblack])-2)*NEWTICRATERATIO, NEWTICRATE), MUSICRATE));
 
-		if (reloadinggamestate)
-			;
-		else if (K_PodiumSequence())
+		if (K_PodiumSequence())
 		{
 			// mapmusrng is set by local player position in K_ResetCeremony
 			S_InitLevelMusic(true);
diff --git a/src/p_tick.c b/src/p_tick.c
index 1c756a8e5..7b7a64056 100644
--- a/src/p_tick.c
+++ b/src/p_tick.c
@@ -901,22 +901,7 @@ void P_Ticker(boolean run)
 				}
 
 				// POSITION!! music
-				if (encoremode)
-				{
-					// Encore humming starts immediately.
-					if (leveltime == 1)
-						S_ChangeMusicInternal("encore", true);
-				}
-				else
-				{
-					// Plays the POSITION music after the camera spin
-					if (leveltime == introtime)
-						S_ChangeMusicInternal(
-							(mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->positionmus[0]
-								? mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->positionmus
-								: "postn"
-							), true);
-				}
+				P_StartPositionMusic(true); // exact times only
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/p_user.c b/src/p_user.c
index 00d3420ab..dc8aee15c 100644
--- a/src/p_user.c
+++ b/src/p_user.c
@@ -705,6 +705,37 @@ void P_PlayVictorySound(mobj_t *source)
 		S_StartSound(source, sfx_kwin);
 }
 
+//
+// P_StartPositionMusic
+//
+// Consistently sets starting music!
+//
+void P_StartPositionMusic(boolean exact)
+{
+	if (encoremode)
+	{
+		if (exact
+			? (leveltime != 1)
+			: (leveltime  < 1))
+			return;
+
+		S_ChangeMusicInternal("encore", true);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		if (exact
+			? (leveltime != introtime)
+			: (leveltime  < introtime))
+			return;
+
+		S_ChangeMusicInternal(
+			(mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->positionmus[0]
+				? mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->positionmus
+				: "postn"
+			), true);
+	}
+}
+
 //
 // P_EndingMusic
 //
@@ -882,6 +913,7 @@ void P_RestoreMusic(player_t *player)
 	if ((K_CheckBossIntro() == false)
 		&& (leveltime < (starttime + (TICRATE/2)))) // see also where time overs are handled
 	{
+		P_StartPositionMusic(false); // inexact timing permitted
 		return;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/s_sound.c b/src/s_sound.c
index 7a1acce5a..ed0e29661 100644
--- a/src/s_sound.c
+++ b/src/s_sound.c
@@ -1362,7 +1362,7 @@ static UINT32    queue_fadeinms;
 
 static tic_t     pause_starttic;
 
-static void S_AttemptToRestoreMusic(void)
+void S_AttemptToRestoreMusic(void)
 {
 	switch (gamestate)
 	{
@@ -1376,6 +1376,9 @@ static void S_AttemptToRestoreMusic(void)
 		case GS_INTERMISSION:
 			S_ChangeMusicInternal("racent", true);
 			break;
+		case GS_CEREMONY:
+			S_ChangeMusicEx(mapmusname, mapmusflags, true, mapmusposition, 0, 0);
+			break;
 		case GS_TITLESCREEN:
 			S_ChangeMusicInternal("_title", looptitle);
 			break;
@@ -2975,14 +2978,7 @@ void S_InitLevelMusic(boolean fromnetsave)
 		mapmusresume = 0;
 	}
 
-	S_StopMusic(); // Starting ambience should always be restarted, if playing.
-
-	if (leveltime < (starttime + (TICRATE/2))) // SRB2Kart
-	{
-		;
-	}
-	else
-		S_ChangeMusicEx(mapmusname, mapmusflags, true, mapmusposition, 0, 0);
+	S_StopMusic();
 
 	S_ResetMusicStack();
 	music_stack_noposition = false;
diff --git a/src/s_sound.h b/src/s_sound.h
index 48a5c571c..182c98160 100644
--- a/src/s_sound.h
+++ b/src/s_sound.h
@@ -346,6 +346,9 @@ void S_ResumeAudio(void);
 void S_EnableSound(void);
 void S_DisableSound(void);
 
+// Attempt to restore music based on gamestate.
+void S_AttemptToRestoreMusic(void);
+
 //
 // Music Fading
 //