diff --git a/packages/superdough/superdough.mjs b/packages/superdough/superdough.mjs
index f899052f..e354cb7d 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/superdough.mjs
+++ b/packages/superdough/superdough.mjs
@@ -273,6 +273,12 @@ export const superdough = async (value, t, hapDuration) => {
   value.duration = hapDuration;
   // calculate absolute time
   t = typeof t === 'string' && t.startsWith('=') ? Number(t.slice(1)) : ac.currentTime + t;
+  if (t < ac.currentTime) {
+    console.log(
+      `[superdough]: cannot schedule sounds in the past (target: ${t.toFixed(2)}, now: ${ac.currentTime.toFixed(2)})`,
+    );
+    return;
+  }
   // destructure
   let {
     s = 'triangle',