diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiser.cpp b/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiser.cpp
index ea0028e477..fc76d407a3 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiser.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiser.cpp
@@ -42,13 +42,16 @@ MPESynthesiser::~MPESynthesiser()
 void MPESynthesiser::startVoice (MPESynthesiserVoice* voice, MPENote noteToStart)
 {
     jassert (voice != nullptr);
+
     voice->currentlyPlayingNote = noteToStart;
+    voice->noteOnTime = lastNoteOnCounter++;
     voice->noteStarted();
 }
 
 void MPESynthesiser::stopVoice (MPESynthesiserVoice* voice, MPENote noteToStop, bool allowTailOff)
 {
     jassert (voice != nullptr);
+
     voice->currentlyPlayingNote = noteToStop;
     voice->noteStopped (allowTailOff);
 }
@@ -197,7 +200,7 @@ MPESynthesiserVoice* MPESynthesiser::findVoiceToSteal (MPENote noteToStealVoiceF
         // compilers generating code containing heap allocations..
         struct Sorter
         {
-            bool operator() (const MPESynthesiserVoice* a, const MPESynthesiserVoice* b) const noexcept { return a->wasStartedBefore (*b); }
+            bool operator() (const MPESynthesiserVoice* a, const MPESynthesiserVoice* b) const noexcept { return a->noteOnTime < b->noteOnTime; }
         };
 
         std::sort (usableVoices.begin(), usableVoices.end(), Sorter());
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiser.h b/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiser.h
index d30269375f..c49bbcdeb6 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiser.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiser.h
@@ -304,6 +304,7 @@ protected:
 private:
     //==============================================================================
     bool shouldStealVoices = false;
+    uint32 lastNoteOnCounter = 0;
 
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR (MPESynthesiser)
 };
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiserVoice.cpp b/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiserVoice.cpp
index 5cb03eee50..b20e13d661 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiserVoice.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiserVoice.cpp
@@ -42,11 +42,6 @@ bool MPESynthesiserVoice::isPlayingButReleased() const noexcept
     return isActive() && currentlyPlayingNote.keyState == MPENote::off;
 }
 
-bool MPESynthesiserVoice::wasStartedBefore (const MPESynthesiserVoice& other) const noexcept
-{
-    return noteStartTime < other.noteStartTime;
-}
-
 void MPESynthesiserVoice::clearCurrentNote() noexcept
 {
     currentlyPlayingNote = MPENote();
diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiserVoice.h b/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiserVoice.h
index f1603d5f44..6414e8d397 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiserVoice.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiserVoice.h
@@ -156,9 +156,6 @@ public:
     */
     double getSampleRate() const noexcept                 { return currentSampleRate; }
 
-    /** Returns true if this voice started playing its current note before the other voice did. */
-    bool wasStartedBefore (const MPESynthesiserVoice& other) const noexcept;
-
 protected:
     //==============================================================================
     /** Resets the state of this voice after a sound has finished playing.
@@ -182,7 +179,8 @@ protected:
 private:
     //==============================================================================
     friend class MPESynthesiser;
-    uint32 noteStartTime = 0;
+
+    uint32 noteOnTime = 0;
 
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR (MPESynthesiserVoice)
 };