diff --git a/audio/out/ao_coreaudio_chmap.c b/audio/out/ao_coreaudio_chmap.c
index b1572dabd1..0405338828 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_coreaudio_chmap.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_coreaudio_chmap.c
@@ -265,3 +265,28 @@ coreaudio_error:
     talloc_free(ta_ctx);
     return false;
 }
+
+void ca_get_active_chmap(struct ao *ao, AudioDeviceID device, int channel_count,
+                         struct mp_chmap *out_map)
+{
+    void *ta_ctx = talloc_new(NULL);
+
+    // Apparently, we have to guess by looking back at the supported layouts,
+    // and I haven't found a property that retrieves the actual currently
+    // active channel layout.
+
+    AudioChannelLayout *ml = ca_query_layout(ao, device, ta_ctx);
+    if (ml && ca_layout_to_mp_chmap(ao, ml, out_map)) {
+        if (channel_count == out_map->num)
+            goto done;
+    }
+
+    AudioChannelLayout *sl = ca_query_stereo_layout(ao, device, ta_ctx);
+    if (sl && ca_layout_to_mp_chmap(ao, sl, out_map)) {
+        if (channel_count == out_map->num)
+            goto done;
+    }
+
+    out_map->num = 0;
+done: ;
+}
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_coreaudio_chmap.h b/audio/out/ao_coreaudio_chmap.h
index ce31975b6d..a67e1dc252 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_coreaudio_chmap.h
+++ b/audio/out/ao_coreaudio_chmap.h
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@
 
 #include <AudioToolbox/AudioToolbox.h>
 
+struct mp_chmap;
+
 bool ca_init_chmap(struct ao *ao, AudioDeviceID device);
+void ca_get_active_chmap(struct ao *ao, AudioDeviceID device, int channel_count,
+                         struct mp_chmap *out_map);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_coreaudio_exclusive.c b/audio/out/ao_coreaudio_exclusive.c
index f8aba87188..c998ee825c 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_coreaudio_exclusive.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_coreaudio_exclusive.c
@@ -315,7 +315,10 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     ao->samplerate = p->stream_asbd.mSampleRate;
 
     if (ao->channels.num != p->stream_asbd.mChannelsPerFrame) {
-        // We really expect that ca_init_chmap() fixes the layout to the HW's.
+        ca_active_chmap(ao, p->device, p->stream_asbd.mChannelsPerFrame,
+                        &ao->channels);
+    }
+    if (!ao->channels.num) {
         MP_ERR(ao, "number of channels changed, and unknown channel layout!\n");
         goto coreaudio_error;
     }