diff --git a/src/driver.h b/src/driver.h
index b17376c..3498639 100644
--- a/src/driver.h
+++ b/src/driver.h
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ void FCEUI_CheatSearchSetCurrentAsOriginal(void);
 
 void FCEUI_SetLowPass(int q);
 void FCEUI_RemoveTriangleNoise(int d);
+void FCEUI_ReduceDmcPopping(int d);
 
 void FCEUI_NSFSetVis(int mode);
 int FCEUI_NSFChange(int amount);
diff --git a/src/drivers/libretro/libretro.c b/src/drivers/libretro/libretro.c
index efeb8d8..fde6342 100644
--- a/src/drivers/libretro/libretro.c
+++ b/src/drivers/libretro/libretro.c
@@ -1574,6 +1574,7 @@ static bool update_option_visibility(void)
             "fceumm_sndquality",
             "fceumm_sndlowpass",
             "fceumm_removetrianglenoise",
+            "fceumm_reducedmcpopping",
             "fceumm_sndstereodelay",
             "fceumm_swapduty",
             "fceumm_apu_1",
@@ -2400,6 +2401,14 @@ static void check_variables(bool startup)
       FCEUI_RemoveTriangleNoise(newval);
    }
 
+   var.key = "fceumm_reducedmcpopping";
+
+   if (environ_cb(RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_GET_VARIABLE, &var) && var.value)
+   {
+      int newval = (!strcmp(var.value, "enabled")) ? 1 : 0;
+      FCEUI_ReduceDmcPopping(newval);
+   }
+
    var.key = "fceumm_sndstereodelay";
 
    if (environ_cb(RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_GET_VARIABLE, &var) && var.value)
diff --git a/src/drivers/libretro/libretro_core_options.h b/src/drivers/libretro/libretro_core_options.h
index ffceb68..e17ca26 100644
--- a/src/drivers/libretro/libretro_core_options.h
+++ b/src/drivers/libretro/libretro_core_options.h
@@ -335,6 +335,20 @@ struct retro_core_option_v2_definition option_defs[] = {
       },
       "disabled",
    },
+   {
+      "fceumm_reducedmcpopping",
+      "Reduce DMC Channel Popping",
+      NULL,
+      "Smooth direct writes to the DMC DAC register ($4011) by stepping the DAC only halfway toward each new value.  Reduces the audible click when games (Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, etc.) pulse the DAC for manual sample playback.  Normal DPCM bit-stream sample playback is unaffected.",
+      NULL,
+      "audio",
+      {
+         { "disabled", NULL },
+         { "enabled",  NULL },
+         { NULL, NULL },
+      },
+      "disabled",
+   },
    {
       "fceumm_sndstereodelay",
       "Stereo Sound Effect",
diff --git a/src/fceu.h b/src/fceu.h
index 4ee4f2d..4534588 100644
--- a/src/fceu.h
+++ b/src/fceu.h
@@ -104,6 +104,18 @@ typedef struct {
 	                             * that behaviour in HQ.  Default off to
 	                             * preserve existing HQ output bit-exactly
 	                             * when the option is not set. */
+	int ReduceDMCPopping;		/* Smooth direct writes to the DMC DAC
+	                             * register ($4011) by stepping the DAC
+	                             * only halfway from its previous value
+	                             * toward the newly written value, which
+	                             * attenuates the audible click games
+	                             * like Castlevania II generate when they
+	                             * pulse the DAC for manual sample
+	                             * playback.  Normal DPCM bit-decode
+	                             * playback (the +/-2 per bit update) is
+	                             * NOT affected.  Default off so the DAC
+	                             * trajectory is bit-exact when the
+	                             * option is not set. */
 } FCEUS;
 
 extern FCEUS FSettings;
diff --git a/src/sound.c b/src/sound.c
index 97ffbd7..a0c15e7 100644
--- a/src/sound.c
+++ b/src/sound.c
@@ -313,7 +313,25 @@ static DECLFW(Write_DMCRegs) {
 		DMCFormat = V;
 		break;
 	case 0x01: DoPCM();
-		RawDALatch = V & 0x7F;
+		{
+			/* $4011 is the 7-bit DAC latch.  Games like Castlevania II
+			 * pulse this register directly to produce sample-style audio
+			 * out-of-band from the DPCM bit-stream; the abrupt steps
+			 * between successive writes are the audible "pop".  When
+			 * ReduceDMCPopping is on, take only the midpoint of the
+			 * old-vs-new transition - i.e. step the DAC halfway toward
+			 * the requested value rather than jumping straight to it.
+			 * This is the same algorithm libretro-fceumm_next ships
+			 * (backport reference: negativeExponent's fceumm_next).
+			 * The DPCM playback path (the +/-2 per bit update further
+			 * down) is left untouched. */
+			uint8_t newval  = V & 0x7F;
+			uint8_t lastval = RawDALatch;
+			RawDALatch = newval;
+			if (FSettings.ReduceDMCPopping) {
+				RawDALatch = (uint8_t)(newval - ((int)newval - (int)lastval) / 2);
+			}
+		}
 		if (RawDALatch)
 			DMC_7bit = 1;
 		break;
@@ -1261,6 +1279,10 @@ void FCEUI_RemoveTriangleNoise(int d) {
 	FSettings.RemoveTriangleNoise = d ? 1 : 0;
 }
 
+void FCEUI_ReduceDmcPopping(int d) {
+	FSettings.ReduceDMCPopping = d ? 1 : 0;
+}
+
 void FCEUI_SetSoundQuality(int quality) {
 	FSettings.soundq = quality;
 	SetSoundVariables();