if(snd_playing) does not seem to work in a7 free 7.85.4

i create a sound with a handle like so in the players action

var walk_handle = snd_loop(yada,yada,yada);

and inside a while loop if i code

if(key_w)
{
snd_start(walk_handle);
}
else
{
snd_pause(walk_handle);
}

it works but if i code

if(key_w)
{
if(snd_playing(walk_handle)!=1)snd_start(walk_handle);
}
else
{
if(snd_playing(walk_handle)==1)snd_pause(walk_handle);
}

it does not