static void snd_mpu401_uart_output_write(struct snd_mpu401 * mpu)
 {
        unsigned char byte;
-       int max = 256, timeout;
+       int max = 256;
 
        do {
                if (snd_rawmidi_transmit_peek(mpu->substream_output,
                                              &byte, 1) == 1) {
-                       for (timeout = 100; timeout > 0; timeout--) {
-                               if (snd_mpu401_output_ready(mpu))
-                                       break;
-                       }
-                       if (timeout == 0)
+                       /*
+                        * Try twice because there is hardware that insists on
+                        * setting the output busy bit after each write.
+                        */
+                       if (!snd_mpu401_output_ready(mpu) &&
+                           !snd_mpu401_output_ready(mpu))
                                break;  /* Tx FIFO full - try again later */
                        mpu->write(mpu, byte, MPU401D(mpu));
                        snd_rawmidi_transmit_ack(mpu->substream_output, 1);