diff --git a/src/duskpsp/audio/audiostreampsp.c b/src/duskpsp/audio/audiostreampsp.c
index 5adc3faf..a89c872a 100644
--- a/src/duskpsp/audio/audiostreampsp.c
+++ b/src/duskpsp/audio/audiostreampsp.c
@@ -10,12 +10,22 @@
 #include "assert/assert.h"
 #include "util/memory.h"
 #include <pspaudio.h>
+#include <pspthreadman.h>
 
 // Matches pspaudiolib's own PSP_NUM_AUDIO_SAMPLES convention - PSP audio
 // hardware is meant to be fed small chunks continuously, not one large
 // buffer per call.
 #define AUDIO_PSP_CHUNK_FRAMES 1024
 
+// PSP priorities are inverted (lower = higher priority). This project's
+// main thread runs at the PSPSDK default of 32 (PSP_MAIN_THREAD_PRIORITY
+// is never overridden). A pthread created with default attributes runs at
+// 60 - LOWER priority than the main/render thread - so under load the
+// feeder thread starves and the hardware channel underruns, heard as
+// jitter/crackle that gets worse the busier (lower-fps) a frame is. Raise
+// it above main so audio feeding always wins scheduling contention.
+#define AUDIO_PSP_THREAD_PRIORITY 18
+
 errorret_t audioStreamPSPInit(audiostream_t *stream) {
   assertNotNull(stream, "Stream cannot be NULL.");
 
@@ -82,6 +92,8 @@ bool_t audioStreamPSPIsFinished(audiostream_t *stream) {
 void audioStreamPSPThreadFeed(thread_t *thread) {
   assertNotNull(thread, "Thread cannot be NULL.");
 
+  sceKernelChangeThreadPriority(sceKernelGetThreadId(), AUDIO_PSP_THREAD_PRIORITY);
+
   audiostream_t *stream = (audiostream_t *) thread->data;
   const size_t frameSize = stream->pcm.channels * sizeof(int16_t);
   const size_t totalFrames = stream->dataSize / frameSize;