  In this letter we present a new analysis of the torques acting on the
accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars SAX J1808.4-365 and XTE J1814-338, and show
how our results can be used to constrain theoretical models of the spin
evolution. In particular we find upper limits on any spin-up/down phase of XTE
J1814-338 of $|\dot{\nu}|\lesssim\,1.5\times\,10^{-14}$ Hz/s at 95% confidence
level. We examine the possibility that a gravitational wave torque may be
acting in these systems and suggest that a more likely scenario is that both
systems are close to spin equilibrium, as set by the disc/magnetosphere
interaction.
