diff --git a/espeakup.c b/espeakup.c
index 5422c37..2f6dd25 100644
--- a/espeakup.c
+++ b/espeakup.c
@@ -105,6 +105,16 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		return 1;
 	}
 
+	/* open the softsynth. */
+	if (! open_softsynth()) {
+		perror("Unable to open the softsynth device");
+		return 3;
+	}
+
+	/* register signal handler */
+	signal(SIGINT, espeakup_sighandler);
+	signal(SIGTERM, espeakup_sighandler);
+
 	if (!debug) {
 		/* become a daemon */
 		daemon(0, 1);
@@ -116,15 +126,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
-	/* Spawn our queue-processing thread. */
-	int err = pthread_create(&queue_thread_id, NULL, &queue_runner, &s);
-	if (err != 0) {
-		return 4;
-	}
-
-	/* open the softsynth. */
-	open_softsynth();
-
 	/* initialize espeak */
 	espeak_Initialize(AUDIO_OUTPUT_PLAYBACK, 0, NULL, 0);
 
@@ -140,9 +141,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	set_volume(&s, defaultVolume, ADJ_SET);
 	espeak_SetParameter(espeakCAPITALS, 0, 0);
 
-	/* register signal handler */
-	signal(SIGINT, espeakup_sighandler);
-	signal(SIGTERM, espeakup_sighandler);
+	/* Spawn our queue-processing thread. */
+	int err = pthread_create(&queue_thread_id, NULL, &queue_runner, &s);
+	if (err != 0) {
+		return 4;
+	}
 
 	/* run the main loop */
 	main_loop(&s);
diff --git a/espeakup.h b/espeakup.h
index 067a42b..75292c8 100644
--- a/espeakup.h
+++ b/espeakup.h
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ extern espeak_ERROR set_volume(struct synth_t *s, int vol,
 							   enum adjust_t adj);
 extern espeak_ERROR stop_speech(void);
 extern espeak_ERROR speak_text(struct synth_t *s);
-extern void open_softsynth(void);
+extern int open_softsynth(void);
 extern void close_softsynth(void);
 extern void main_loop(struct synth_t *s);
 extern void * queue_runner(void *arg);
diff --git a/softsynth.c b/softsynth.c
index 15801f4..b482ec9 100644
--- a/softsynth.c
+++ b/softsynth.c
@@ -125,13 +125,16 @@ static void process_buffer(struct synth_t *s, char *buf, ssize_t length)
 	}
 }
 
-void open_softsynth(void)
+int open_softsynth(void)
 {
+		int rc;
+
 	softFD = open("/dev/softsynth", O_RDWR | O_NONBLOCK);
-	if (softFD < 0) {
-		perror("Unable to open the softsynth device");
-		exit(3);
-	}
+	if (softFD < 0)
+		rc = 0;
+	else 
+		rc = 1;
+	return rc;
 }
 
 void close_softsynth(void)