diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinner.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinner.cs
index c092b4dd4b..2799ba4a25 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinner.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinner.cs
@@ -275,6 +275,19 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
 
             if (spinningSample != null && spinnerFrequencyModulate)
                 spinningSample.Frequency.Value = spinning_sample_modulated_base_frequency + Progress;
+
+            // Ticks can theoretically be judged at any point in the spinner's duration.
+            // For performance reasons, we only want to keep the next tick alive.
+            var next = NestedHitObjects.FirstOrDefault(h => !h.Judged);
+
+            // See default `LifetimeStart` as set in `DrawableSpinnerTick`.
+            if (next?.LifetimeStart == double.MaxValue)
+            {
+                // the tick can be theoretically judged at any point in the spinner's duration,
+                // so it must be alive throughout the spinner's entire lifetime.
+                // this mostly matters for correct sample playback.
+                next.LifetimeStart = HitObject.StartTime;
+            }
         }
 
         protected override void UpdateAfterChildren()
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinnerTick.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinnerTick.cs
index a5785dd1f6..5b55533edd 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinnerTick.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinnerTick.cs
@@ -11,8 +11,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
     {
         public override bool DisplayResult => false;
 
-        protected DrawableSpinner DrawableSpinner => (DrawableSpinner)ParentHitObject;
-
         public DrawableSpinnerTick()
             : this(null)
         {
@@ -29,10 +27,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
         {
             base.OnApply();
 
-            // the tick can be theoretically judged at any point in the spinner's duration,
-            // so it must be alive throughout the spinner's entire lifetime.
-            // this mostly matters for correct sample playback.
-            LifetimeStart = DrawableSpinner.HitObject.StartTime;
+            // Lifetime will be managed by `DrawableSpinner`.
+            LifetimeStart = double.MaxValue;
         }
 
         /// <summary>