diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/Cell/Modules/cellVdec.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/Cell/Modules/cellVdec.cpp
index e9ca207bcf..cddc8680da 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/Cell/Modules/cellVdec.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/Cell/Modules/cellVdec.cpp
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ struct vdec_context final
 	std::deque<vdec_frame> out_queue;
 	const u32 out_max = 60;
 
-	atomic_t<u32> au_count{0};
+	atomic_t<s32> au_count{0};
 
 	lf_queue<vdec_cmd> in_cmd;
 
@@ -540,14 +540,11 @@ struct vdec_context final
 				{
 					// Send AUDONE even if the current sequence was reset and a new sequence was started.
 					cellVdec.trace("Sending CELL_VDEC_MSG_TYPE_AUDONE (handle=0x%x, seq_id=%d, cmd_id=%d)", handle, cmd->seq_id, cmd->id);
+					ensure(au_count.try_dec(0));
+
 					cb_func(ppu, vid, CELL_VDEC_MSG_TYPE_AUDONE, CELL_OK, cb_arg);
 					lv2_obj::sleep(ppu);
 
-					if (au_count > 0)
-					{
-						--au_count;
-					}
-
 					while (!decoded_frames.empty() && seq_id == cmd->seq_id)
 					{
 						// Wait until there is free space in the image queue.