diff --git a/libao2/ao_alsa1x.c b/libao2/ao_alsa1x.c
index 6764068ae7..41eae11038 100644
--- a/libao2/ao_alsa1x.c
+++ b/libao2/ao_alsa1x.c
@@ -155,6 +155,9 @@ static int init(int rate_hz, int channels, int format, int flags)
 	return(0);
     }
 
+    if (ao_subdevice != NULL)
+	alsa_device = ao_subdevice;
+
     if (alsa_device == NULL)
     {
 	if ((alsa_device = malloc(ALSA_DEVICE_SIZE)) == NULL)
diff --git a/libao2/ao_alsa9.c b/libao2/ao_alsa9.c
index 6764068ae7..41eae11038 100644
--- a/libao2/ao_alsa9.c
+++ b/libao2/ao_alsa9.c
@@ -155,6 +155,9 @@ static int init(int rate_hz, int channels, int format, int flags)
 	return(0);
     }
 
+    if (ao_subdevice != NULL)
+	alsa_device = ao_subdevice;
+
     if (alsa_device == NULL)
     {
 	if ((alsa_device = malloc(ALSA_DEVICE_SIZE)) == NULL)