diff --git a/src/common/text.c b/src/common/text.c
index 48b81ea5..60a069c9 100644
--- a/src/common/text.c
+++ b/src/common/text.c
@@ -2194,6 +2194,9 @@ sound_play (const char *file, gboolean quiet)
 	char *cmd;
 #endif
 
+	if (prefs.hex_away_omit_alerts)
+		return;
+
 	/* the pevents GUI editor triggers this after removing a soundfile */
 	if (!file[0])
 	{