diff --git a/sound/drivers/aloop.c b/sound/drivers/aloop.c
index 3650d47b7d58..eb8a68a06c4d 100644
--- a/sound/drivers/aloop.c
+++ b/sound/drivers/aloop.c
@@ -1129,6 +1129,8 @@ static int loopback_parse_timer_id(const char *str,
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	if (card_idx == -1)
+		tid->dev_class = SNDRV_TIMER_CLASS_GLOBAL;
 	if (!err && tid) {
 		tid->card = card_idx;
 		tid->device = dev;