diff --git a/src/components/general/DateTimeSlider.vue b/src/components/general/DateTimeSlider.vue
index 4163d14e6..330f8aefe 100644
--- a/src/components/general/DateTimeSlider.vue
+++ b/src/components/general/DateTimeSlider.vue
@@ -50,12 +50,12 @@
       <div class="play-controls">
         <v-menu offset="25" transition="fade-transition">
           <template v-slot:activator="{ props }">
-            <v-btn
-              v-bind="props"
-              density="compact"
-              variant="text"
-              icon="mdi-play-speed"
-            />
+            <v-btn v-bind="props" density="compact" variant="text" icon>
+              <v-icon>mdi-play-speed</v-icon>
+              <v-tooltip location="top" activator="parent">
+                <span>Playback speed</span>
+              </v-tooltip>
+            </v-btn>
           </template>
 
           <v-list class="pa-1">
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ const currentSpeed = ref(defaultSpeed)
 const availableSpeeds = [0.5, 1, 2, 4]
 
 const isPlaying = ref(false)
-let playIntervalTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
+let playTimeoutTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
 
 const doFollowNow = ref(props.doFollowNow)
 let followNowIntervalTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
@@ -286,17 +286,14 @@ function togglePlay(): void {
 function startPlay(): void {
   isPlaying.value = true
   stopFollowNow()
-  playIntervalTimer = setInterval(
-    play,
-    props.playInterval * (1 / currentSpeed.value),
-  )
+  play()
 }
 
 function stopPlay(): void {
   isPlaying.value = false
-  if (playIntervalTimer) {
-    clearInterval(playIntervalTimer)
-    playIntervalTimer = null
+  if (playTimeoutTimer) {
+    clearTimeout(playTimeoutTimer)
+    playTimeoutTimer = null
   }
 }
 
@@ -305,6 +302,12 @@ function play(): void {
     dateIndex.value = 0
   }
   increment(playIncrement)
+  if (isPlaying.value) {
+    playTimeoutTimer = setTimeout(
+      play,
+      props.playInterval * (1 / currentSpeed.value),
+    )
+  }
 }
 
 function stepBackward(): void {
@@ -327,10 +330,6 @@ function increment(step: number): void {
 
 function setSpeed(speed: number) {
   currentSpeed.value = speed
-  if (isPlaying.value) {
-    stopPlay()
-    startPlay()
-  }
 }
 
 function formatSpeed(speed: number) {