diff --git a/src/intermission/intermission.cpp b/src/intermission/intermission.cpp
index 0efbf3729..2ce6296b2 100644
--- a/src/intermission/intermission.cpp
+++ b/src/intermission/intermission.cpp
@@ -144,12 +144,7 @@ void DrawFullscreenSubtitle(FFont* font, const char *text)
 
 void DIntermissionScreen::Init(FIntermissionAction *desc, bool first)
 {
-	if (desc->mMusic.IsEmpty())
-	{
-		// only start the default music if this is the first action in an intermission
-		if (first) S_ChangeMusic (gameinfo.finaleMusic, gameinfo.finaleOrder, desc->mMusicLooping);
-	}
-	else
+	if (!first && desc->mMusic.IsNotEmpty())
 	{
 		S_ChangeMusic (desc->mMusic, desc->mMusicOrder, desc->mMusicLooping);
 	}
@@ -193,8 +188,27 @@ void DIntermissionScreen::Init(FIntermissionAction *desc, bool first)
 	}
 	mTicker = 0;
 	mSubtitle = desc->mSubtitle;
+	mFirst = first;
+	// If this is the first element of an intermission we must delay starting the music until Start() is called.
+	mMusic = desc->mMusic;
+	mMusicLooping = desc->mMusicLooping;
+	mMusicOrder = desc->mMusicOrder;
 }
 
+void DIntermissionScreen::Start()
+{
+	if (mFirst)
+	{
+		if (mMusic.IsEmpty())
+		{
+			S_ChangeMusic(gameinfo.finaleMusic, gameinfo.finaleOrder, mMusicLooping);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			S_ChangeMusic(mMusic, mMusicOrder, mMusicLooping);
+		}
+	}
+}
 
 int DIntermissionScreen::Responder (FInputEvent *ev)
 {
@@ -900,6 +914,11 @@ again:
 	return false;
 }
 
+void DIntermissionController::Start()
+{
+	if (mScreen) mScreen->Start();
+}
+
 bool DIntermissionController::Responder (FInputEvent *ev)
 {
 	if (mScreen != NULL)
@@ -1042,10 +1061,17 @@ DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(DIntermissionController, Ticker)
 	ACTION_RETURN_BOOL(self->Ticker());
 }
 
+DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(DIntermissionController, Start)
+{
+	PARAM_SELF_PROLOGUE(DIntermissionController);
+	self->Start();
+	return 0;
+}
+
 DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(DIntermissionController, Drawer)
 {
 	PARAM_SELF_PROLOGUE(DIntermissionController);
-	self->Drawer	();
+	self->Drawer();
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/intermission/intermission.h b/src/intermission/intermission.h
index db2e76ecb..e25354c87 100644
--- a/src/intermission/intermission.h
+++ b/src/intermission/intermission.h
@@ -166,7 +166,11 @@ protected:
 	int mDuration;
 	FTextureID mBackground;
 	FString mSubtitle;
+	FString mMusic;
+	int mMusicOrder;
+	bool mMusicLooping;
 	bool mFlatfill;
+	bool mFirst;
 	TArray<FIIntermissionPatch> mOverlays;
 
 	bool CheckOverlay(int i);
@@ -176,6 +180,7 @@ public:
 
 	DIntermissionScreen() {}
 	virtual void Init(FIntermissionAction *desc, bool first);
+	virtual void Start();
 	virtual int Responder (FInputEvent *ev);
 	virtual int Ticker ();
 	virtual void Drawer ();
@@ -304,6 +309,7 @@ public:
 	DIntermissionController(FIntermissionDescriptor *mDesc = NULL, bool mDeleteDesc = false, bool ending = false);
 	bool Responder (FInputEvent *ev);
 	bool Ticker ();
+	void Start();
 	void Drawer ();
 	void OnDestroy() override;
 	bool NextPage();
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/ui/intermission.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/ui/intermission.zs
index f6a762f1b..cdf4ce03c 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/ui/intermission.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/ui/intermission.zs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ class IntermissionController native ui
     // This is mostly a black box to the native intermission code.
     // May be scriptified later, but right now we do not need it.
 
+    native void Start();
 	native bool Responder(InputEvent ev);
     native bool Ticker();
     native void Drawer();
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ class IntermissionScreenJob : ScreenJob
 		return self;
 	}
 
+	override void Start() { controller.Start(); }
 	override bool OnEvent(InputEvent evt) { return controller.Responder(evt); }
 	override void OnTick() { if (!controller.Ticker()) jobstate = finished; }
 	override void Draw(double smoothratio) { controller.Drawer(); }