diff --git a/src/engine/audio/sound.cpp b/src/engine/audio/sound.cpp
index 08940669..cd2d73ef 100644
--- a/src/engine/audio/sound.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/audio/sound.cpp
@@ -573,7 +573,10 @@ int initOPENAL()
 
 	printlog("[OpenAL]: initializing...\n");
 	printlog("[OpenAL]: opening device...\n");
-	openal_device = alcOpenDevice(NULL); // preferred device
+	const char * defname = alcGetString(NULL, ALC_DEFAULT_DEVICE_SPECIFIER);
+
+	openal_device  = alcOpenDevice(defname);
+
 	if(!openal_device)
 		return 0;