diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.cpp b/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.cpp
index 6a889b4b32..81110ed9f8 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ void SynthesiserVoice::setCurrentPlaybackSampleRate (const double newRate)
     currentSampleRate = newRate;
 }
 
+bool SynthesiserVoice::isVoiceActive() const
+{
+    return getCurrentlyPlayingNote() >= 0;
+}
+
 void SynthesiserVoice::clearCurrentNote()
 {
     currentlyPlayingNote = -1;
@@ -426,7 +431,7 @@ SynthesiserVoice* Synthesiser::findFreeVoice (SynthesiserSound* soundToPlay,
     {
         SynthesiserVoice* const voice = voices.getUnchecked (i);
 
-        if (voice->getCurrentlyPlayingNote() < 0  && voice->canPlaySound (soundToPlay))
+        if ((! voice->isVoiceActive()) && voice->canPlaySound (soundToPlay))
             return voice;
     }
 
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.h b/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.h
index 6a32cedaa0..3c20a85302 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_basics/synthesisers/juce_Synthesiser.h
@@ -140,6 +140,12 @@ public:
     */
     virtual void stopNote (float velocity, bool allowTailOff) = 0;
 
+    /** Returns true if this voice is currently busy playing a sound.
+        By default this just checks the getCurrentlyPlayingNote() value, but can
+        be overridden for more advanced checking.
+    */
+    virtual bool isVoiceActive() const;
+
     /** Called to let the voice know that the pitch wheel has been moved.
         This will be called during the rendering callback, so must be fast and thread-safe.
     */