diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
index 6e7669976e..c6a0b15bd4 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
@@ -349,6 +349,8 @@ NpcAnimation::NpcAnimation(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, osg::ref_ptr<osg::Group> par
         mPartPriorities[i] = 0;
     }
 
+    std::fill(mSounds.begin(), mSounds.end(), nullptr);
+
     updateNpcBase();
 }
 
@@ -756,10 +758,10 @@ void NpcAnimation::removeIndividualPart(ESM::PartReferenceType type)
     mPartslots[type] = -1;
 
     mObjectParts[type].reset();
-    if (!mSoundIds[type].empty() && !mSoundsDisabled)
+    if (mSounds[type] != nullptr && !mSoundsDisabled)
     {
-        MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->stopSound3D(mPtr, mSoundIds[type]);
-        mSoundIds[type].clear();
+        MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->stopSound(mSounds[type]);
+        mSounds[type] = nullptr;
     }
 }
 
@@ -838,10 +840,10 @@ bool NpcAnimation::addOrReplaceIndividualPart(ESM::PartReferenceType type, int g
         MWWorld::ConstContainerStoreIterator csi = inv.getSlot(group < 0 ? MWWorld::InventoryStore::Slot_Helmet : group);
         if (csi != inv.end())
         {
-            mSoundIds[type] = csi->getClass().getSound(*csi);
-            if (!mSoundIds[type].empty())
+            const auto soundId = csi->getClass().getSound(*csi);
+            if (!soundId.empty())
             {
-                MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound3D(mPtr, mSoundIds[type],
+                mSounds[type] = MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound3D(mPtr, soundId,
                     1.0f, 1.0f, MWSound::Type::Sfx, MWSound::PlayMode::Loop
                 );
             }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.hpp
index 7f8d5434bf..7edf35a5cd 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.hpp
@@ -8,12 +8,19 @@
 #include "actoranimation.hpp"
 #include "weaponanimation.hpp"
 
+#include <array>
+
 namespace ESM
 {
     struct NPC;
     struct BodyPart;
 }
 
+namespace MWSound
+{
+    class Sound;
+}
+
 namespace MWRender
 {
 
@@ -40,7 +47,7 @@ private:
 
     // Bounded Parts
     PartHolderPtr mObjectParts[ESM::PRT_Count];
-    std::string mSoundIds[ESM::PRT_Count];
+    std::array<MWSound::Sound*, ESM::PRT_Count> mSounds;
 
     const ESM::NPC *mNpc;
     std::string    mHeadModel;