diff --git a/app/trackmanager.py b/app/trackmanager.py
index 0e0516d..953762d 100644
--- a/app/trackmanager.py
+++ b/app/trackmanager.py
@@ -167,8 +167,6 @@ class _FadeTrack(QRunnable):
             sleep(1 / Config.FADEOUT_STEPS_PER_SECOND)
 
         self.player.stop()
-        log.debug(f"Releasing player {self.player=}")
-        self.player.release()
 
 
 class _Music:
@@ -183,6 +181,7 @@ class _Music:
         self.name = name
         self.max_volume: int = Config.VLC_VOLUME_DEFAULT
         self.start_dt: Optional[dt.datetime] = None
+        self.player_count: int = 0
 
     def adjust_by_ms(self, ms: int) -> None:
         """Move player position by ms milliseconds"""
@@ -222,6 +221,8 @@ class _Music:
         with lock:
             p.stop()
             p.release()
+            self.player_count -= 1
+            log.debug(f"_Music.stop: Releasing player {p=}, {self.player_count=}")
             p = None
 
     def fade(self, fade_seconds: int) -> None:
@@ -325,6 +326,8 @@ class _Music:
         if self.player:
             _ = self.player.play()
             self.set_volume(self.max_volume)
+            self.player_count += 1
+            log.debug(f"_Music.play: {self.player_count=}")
 
             if position:
                 self.player.set_position(position)