A system and method for controlling the traveling of a tape is provided. The system and method include passing data in a buffer to a channel input/output unit for writing the data to a tape. A determining unit determines if second data is to be written to the tape without performing a backhitch after first data is written to the tape. The determination unit also determines a state of the system before writing the first data to the tape and compares an amount of second data written to the tape prior to writing first data to the tape with an amount of second data expected to be written to the tape to an area up to a position on the tape where writing the first data commenced, for determining if the second data is to be written to the tape without performing a backhitch. A speed adjusting unit adjusts the speed of the tape to prevent a backhitch due to the buffer running out of data when the determination unit determines that the second data is to be written to the tape without performing a backhitch.