diff --git a/audio/out/ao_alsa.c b/audio/out/ao_alsa.c
index 1a2c6f5095..32f08bef59 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_alsa.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_alsa.c
@@ -939,15 +939,19 @@ static void drain(struct ao *ao)
 static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
-    int err;
 
-    unsigned space = err = snd_pcm_avail(p->alsa);
-    if (err == -EPIPE) // EOF
-        return p->buffersize;
+    snd_pcm_sframes_t space = snd_pcm_avail(p->alsa);
+    if (space < 0) {
+        MP_ERR(ao, "Error received from snd_pcm_avail (%ld, %s)!\n",
+               space, snd_strerror(space));
+        if (space == -EPIPE) // EOF
+            return p->buffersize;
 
-    if (!check_device_present(ao, err))
+        // request a reload of the AO if device is not present,
+        // then error out.
+        check_device_present(ao, space);
         goto alsa_error;
-    CHECK_ALSA_ERROR("cannot get pcm avail");
+    }
 
     if (space > p->buffersize) // Buffer underrun?
         space = p->buffersize;