diff --git a/source/fx/fxgeyser.cpp b/source/fx/fxgeyser.cpp
index 85808ee8c..9aa87fc0b 100644
--- a/source/fx/fxgeyser.cpp
+++ b/source/fx/fxgeyser.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ int			W;
 			{
 				Flags |= FX_FLAG_INJURE_PLAYER;
 
-				if ( SoundId == NOT_PLAYING )
+				if ( SoundId == NOT_PLAYING && !GameScene.getIsPaused() )
 				{
 					SoundId = (int) CSoundMediator::playSfx(CSoundMediator::SFX_OIL_GEYSER,true);
 				}
diff --git a/source/game/game.cpp b/source/game/game.cpp
index 5f9884763..3fe97bd4d 100644
--- a/source/game/game.cpp
+++ b/source/game/game.cpp
@@ -227,6 +227,8 @@ void 	CGameScene::init()
 
 		s_showBossTextOnRespawn=false;
 		m_playingBossMusic=false;
+
+		m_isPaused=false;
 }
 /*****************************************************************************/
 // This is a seperate funtion ( and virtual ) so that we can overload it for
@@ -651,6 +653,9 @@ void CGameScene::think_playing(int _frames)
 		}
 	}
 
+	// paused for pause menu or conversation?
+	m_isPaused = m_pauseMenu->isActive() || CConversation::isActive();
+
 	// Conversation think ( with pad debounce stuff.. )
 	if(CConversation::isActive())m_player->ignoreNewlyPressedButtonsOnPadThisThink();
 	if(!m_pauseMenu->isActive())
diff --git a/source/game/game.h b/source/game/game.h
index 2886b50b9..5adc9cd70 100644
--- a/source/game/game.h
+++ b/source/game/game.h
@@ -148,6 +148,10 @@ static	int				s_showBossTextOnRespawn;
 
 		int				m_musicStarted;
 
+public:
+		int				getIsPaused()						{return(m_isPaused);}
+protected:		
+		int				m_isPaused;
 };