diff --git a/audio/out/ao_pulse.c b/audio/out/ao_pulse.c
index 9cc24d99a4..edbb009729 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_pulse.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_pulse.c
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
         .fragsize = -1,
     };
 
-    int flags = PA_STREAM_NOT_MONOTONIC | PA_STREAM_FAIL_ON_SUSPEND;
+    int flags = PA_STREAM_NOT_MONOTONIC;
     if (!priv->cfg_latency_hacks)
         flags |= PA_STREAM_INTERPOLATE_TIMING|PA_STREAM_AUTO_TIMING_UPDATE;
 
@@ -418,6 +418,11 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
         pa_threaded_mainloop_wait(priv->mainloop);
     }
 
+    if (pa_stream_is_suspended(priv->stream)) {
+        MP_ERR(ao, "The stream is suspended. Bailing out.\n");
+        goto unlock_and_fail;
+    }
+
     pa_threaded_mainloop_unlock(priv->mainloop);
 
     return 0;