diff --git a/alsa.c b/alsa.c
index 8a81342..6ab8b60 100644
--- a/alsa.c
+++ b/alsa.c
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ static pthread_mutex_t audio_mutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
 static snd_pcm_t *handle;
 static snd_pcm_hw_params_t *params;
 snd_pcm_status_t *status;
-static unsigned int rate = 22050;	/* sample rate */
 static int dir = 0;
 
 void lock_audio_mutex(void)
@@ -95,12 +94,10 @@ static int alsa_play_callback(short *audio, int numsamples,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int init_audio(void)
+int init_audio(unsigned int rate)
 {
 	int rc;
-	unsigned saved_rate;
 
-	rate = 22050;
 
 	/* Open PCM device for playback. */
 	rc = snd_pcm_open(&handle, "default", SND_PCM_STREAM_PLAYBACK, 0);
@@ -141,7 +138,6 @@ int init_audio(void)
 	/* One channel  */
 	snd_pcm_hw_params_set_channels(handle, params, 1);
 
-	saved_rate = rate;
 	snd_pcm_hw_params_set_rate_near(handle, params, &rate, &dir);
 
 	/* Write the parameters to the driver */
diff --git a/espeak_sound.c b/espeak_sound.c
index c9dcd82..92e6017 100644
--- a/espeak_sound.c
+++ b/espeak_sound.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #include "espeakup.h"
-int init_audio(void)
+int init_audio(unsigned int rate)
 {
 	audio_mode = AUDIO_OUTPUT_PLAYBACK;
 	audio_callback = NULL;
diff --git a/espeakup.c b/espeakup.c
index f323d3c..4ec7580 100644
--- a/espeakup.c
+++ b/espeakup.c
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ void espeakup_sighandler(int sig)
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
+	int rate;
 	pthread_t queue_thread_id;
 	struct synth_t s = {
 		.voice = "",
@@ -119,9 +120,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	signal(SIGINT, espeakup_sighandler);
 	signal(SIGTERM, espeakup_sighandler);
 
-	if (init_audio() < 0) {
-		return 5;
-	}
 
 	if (!debug) {
 		/* become a daemon */
@@ -135,7 +133,16 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	/* initialize espeak */
-	espeak_Initialize(audio_mode, 0, NULL, 0);
+	rate = espeak_Initialize(audio_mode, 0, NULL, 0);
+	if (rate < 0) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Unable to initialize espeak.\n");
+		return 5;
+	}
+
+	if (init_audio((unsigned int) rate) < 0) {
+		return 6;
+	}
+
 	espeak_SetSynthCallback(audio_callback);
 
 	/* Setup initial voice parameters */
diff --git a/espeakup.h b/espeakup.h
index a289e32..afe75ad 100644
--- a/espeakup.h
+++ b/espeakup.h
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ extern int open_softsynth(void);
 extern void close_softsynth(void);
 extern void main_loop(struct synth_t *s);
 extern void *queue_runner(void *arg);
-extern int init_audio(void);
+extern int init_audio(unsigned int rate);
 extern void lock_audio_mutex(void);
 extern void unlock_audio_mutex(void);
 extern volatile int stopped;