diff --git a/panda/src/audio/audioManager.cxx b/panda/src/audio/audioManager.cxx
index d40fb62018..8fa5a259a9 100644
--- a/panda/src/audio/audioManager.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/audio/audioManager.cxx
@@ -31,17 +31,17 @@ TypeHandle AudioManager::_type_handle;
 
 
 namespace {
-  PT(AudioManager) create_NullAudioManger() {
-    audio_debug("create_NullAudioManger()");
+  AudioManager *create_NullAudioManager() {
+    audio_debug("create_NullAudioManager()");
     return new NullAudioManager();
   }
 }
 
 Create_AudioManager_proc* AudioManager::_create_AudioManager
-    =create_NullAudioManger;
+    =create_NullAudioManager;
 
 void AudioManager::register_AudioManager_creator(Create_AudioManager_proc* proc) {
-  nassertv(_create_AudioManager==create_NullAudioManger);
+  nassertv(_create_AudioManager==create_NullAudioManager);
   _create_AudioManager=proc;
 }
 
@@ -50,37 +50,46 @@ void AudioManager::register_AudioManager_creator(Create_AudioManager_proc* proc)
 // Factory method for getting a platform specific AudioManager:
 PT(AudioManager) AudioManager::create_AudioManager() {
   audio_debug("create_AudioManager()\n  audio_library_name=\""<<audio_library_name<<"\"");
-  static int lib_load;
+  static bool lib_load = false;
   if (!lib_load) {
-    lib_load=1;
+    lib_load = true;
     if (!audio_library_name.empty() && !(audio_library_name == "null")) {
       Filename dl_name = Filename::dso_filename(
           "lib"+string(audio_library_name)+".so");
       dl_name.to_os_specific();
       audio_debug("  dl_name=\""<<dl_name<<"\"");
-      void* lib = load_dso(get_plugin_path().get_value(), dl_name);
-      if (!lib) {
+      void *handle = load_dso(get_plugin_path().get_value(), dl_name);
+      if (handle == (void *)NULL) {
         audio_error("  LoadLibrary() failed, will use NullAudioManager");
         audio_error("    "<<load_dso_error());
-        nassertr(_create_AudioManager==create_NullAudioManger, 0);
+        nassertr(_create_AudioManager == create_NullAudioManager, NULL);
       } else {
-        // ...the library will register itself with the AudioManager.
-        #if defined(DWORD) && defined(WIN32) && !defined(NDEBUG) //[
-          const int bufLen=256;
-          char path[bufLen];
-          DWORD count = GetModuleFileName((HMODULE)lib, path, bufLen);
-          if (count) {
-            audio_debug("  GetModuleFileName() \""<<path<<"\"");
-          } else {
-            audio_debug("  GetModuleFileName() failed.");
-          }
-        #endif //]
+        // Get the special function from the dso, which should return
+        // the AudioManager factory function.
+        string symbol_name = "get_audio_manager_func_" + audio_library_name.get_value();
+        void *dso_symbol = get_dso_symbol(handle, symbol_name);
+        if (audio_cat.is_debug()) {
+          audio_cat.debug()
+            << "symbol of " << symbol_name << " = " << dso_symbol << "\n";
+        }
+        
+        if (dso_symbol == (void *)NULL) {
+          // Couldn't find the module function.
+          unload_dso(handle);
+          handle = NULL;
+          audio_error("  Audio library did not provide get_audio_manager_func, will use NullAudioManager");
+        } else {
+          typedef Create_AudioManager_proc *FuncType();
+          Create_AudioManager_proc *factory_func = (*(FuncType *)dso_symbol)();
+          AudioManager::register_AudioManager_creator(factory_func);          
+        }
       }
     }
   }
   PT(AudioManager) am = (*_create_AudioManager)();
-  if (!am->is_valid()) {
-    am = create_NullAudioManger();
+  if (!am->is_exact_type(NullAudioManager::get_class_type()) && !am->is_valid()) {
+    audio_error("  " << am->get_type() << " is not valid, will use NullAudioManager");
+    am = create_NullAudioManager();
   }
   return am;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/audio/audioManager.h b/panda/src/audio/audioManager.h
index adc80ffea3..6a03a95bdb 100644
--- a/panda/src/audio/audioManager.h
+++ b/panda/src/audio/audioManager.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 #include "filterProperties.h"
 #include "movieAudio.h"
 
-typedef PT(AudioManager) Create_AudioManager_proc();
+typedef AudioManager *Create_AudioManager_proc();
 
 
 class EXPCL_PANDA_AUDIO AudioManager : public TypedReferenceCount {
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/config_fmodAudio.cxx b/panda/src/audiotraits/config_fmodAudio.cxx
index 7f93b7c91f..5262edc76f 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/config_fmodAudio.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/config_fmodAudio.cxx
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
 #include "pandabase.h"
 #ifdef HAVE_FMODEX //[
 
-
 #include "config_fmodAudio.h"
+#include "audioManager.h"
 #include "fmodAudioManager.h"
 #include "fmodAudioSound.h"
 #include "pandaSystem.h"
@@ -39,15 +39,13 @@ ConfigureFn(config_fmodAudio) {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 void
 init_libFmodAudio() {
+  cerr << "init_libFmodAudio\n";
   static bool initialized = false;
   if (initialized) {
     return;
   }
   
   initialized = true;
-
-  AudioManager::register_AudioManager_creator(Create_AudioManager);
-
   FmodAudioManager::init_type();
   FmodAudioSound::init_type();
 
@@ -57,4 +55,16 @@ init_libFmodAudio() {
   ps->set_system_tag("audio", "implementation", "FMOD");
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: get_audio_manager_func_fmod_audio
+//  Description: This function is called when the dynamic library is
+//               loaded; it should return the Create_AudioManager
+//               function appropriate to create a FmodAudioManager.
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+Create_AudioManager_proc *
+get_audio_manager_func_fmod_audio() {
+  init_libFmodAudio();
+  return &Create_FmodAudioManager;
+}
+
 #endif //]
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/config_fmodAudio.h b/panda/src/audiotraits/config_fmodAudio.h
index 30af2c54a2..94d2ef874a 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/config_fmodAudio.h
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/config_fmodAudio.h
@@ -20,11 +20,13 @@
 #ifdef HAVE_FMODEX //[
 #include "notifyCategoryProxy.h"
 #include "dconfig.h"
+#include "audioManager.h"
 
 ConfigureDecl(config_fmodAudio, EXPCL_FMOD_AUDIO, EXPTP_FMOD_AUDIO);
 NotifyCategoryDecl(fmodAudio, EXPCL_FMOD_AUDIO, EXPTP_FMOD_AUDIO);
 
 extern EXPCL_FMOD_AUDIO void init_libFmodAudio();
+extern "C" EXPCL_FMOD_AUDIO Create_AudioManager_proc *get_audio_manager_func_fmod_audio();
 
 #endif //]
 
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/config_milesAudio.cxx b/panda/src/audiotraits/config_milesAudio.cxx
index 5bd06f0f1f..4a0795599f 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/config_milesAudio.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/config_milesAudio.cxx
@@ -77,9 +77,6 @@ init_libMilesAudio() {
     return;
   }
   initialized = true;
-
-  AudioManager::register_AudioManager_creator(Create_AudioManager);
-
   MilesAudioManager::init_type();
   MilesAudioSound::init_type();
   MilesAudioSample::init_type();
@@ -92,4 +89,16 @@ init_libMilesAudio() {
   ps->set_system_tag("audio", "implementation", "Miles");
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: get_audio_manager_func_miles_audio
+//  Description: This function is called when the dynamic library is
+//               loaded; it should return the Create_AudioManager
+//               function appropriate to create a MilesAudioManager.
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+Create_AudioManager_proc *
+get_audio_manager_func_miles_audio() {
+  init_libMilesAudio();
+  return &Create_MilesAudioManager;
+}
+
 #endif //]
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/config_milesAudio.h b/panda/src/audiotraits/config_milesAudio.h
index 4a0dbbf571..5a2ec1cd36 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/config_milesAudio.h
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/config_milesAudio.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "configVariableBool.h"
 #include "configVariableInt.h"
 #include "dconfig.h"
+#include "audioManager.h"
 
 ConfigureDecl(config_milesAudio, EXPCL_MILES_AUDIO, EXPTP_MILES_AUDIO);
 NotifyCategoryDecl(milesAudio, EXPCL_MILES_AUDIO, EXPTP_MILES_AUDIO);
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ extern ConfigVariableInt miles_audio_preload_threshold;
 extern ConfigVariableBool miles_audio_panda_threads;
 
 extern EXPCL_MILES_AUDIO void init_libMilesAudio();
-
+extern "C" EXPCL_MILES_AUDIO Create_AudioManager_proc *get_audio_manager_func_miles_audio();
 #endif //]
 
 #endif // CONFIG_MILESAUDIO_H
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/config_openalAudio.cxx b/panda/src/audiotraits/config_openalAudio.cxx
index fa9aa43eef..7aade3721b 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/config_openalAudio.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/config_openalAudio.cxx
@@ -45,9 +45,6 @@ init_libOpenALAudio() {
   }
   
   initialized = true;
-
-  AudioManager::register_AudioManager_creator(Create_AudioManager);
-
   OpenALAudioManager::init_type();
   OpenALAudioSound::init_type();
 
@@ -57,4 +54,16 @@ init_libOpenALAudio() {
   ps->set_system_tag("audio", "implementation", "OpenAL");
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: get_audio_manager_func_openal_audio
+//  Description: This function is called when the dynamic library is
+//               loaded; it should return the Create_AudioManager
+//               function appropriate to create an OpenALAudioManager.
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+Create_AudioManager_proc *
+get_audio_manager_func_openal_audio() {
+  init_libOpenALAudio();
+  return &Create_OpenALAudioManager;
+}
+
 #endif //]
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/config_openalAudio.h b/panda/src/audiotraits/config_openalAudio.h
index c5ffce5c5c..3f556d7acd 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/config_openalAudio.h
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/config_openalAudio.h
@@ -20,11 +20,13 @@
 #ifdef HAVE_OPENAL //[
 #include "notifyCategoryProxy.h"
 #include "dconfig.h"
+#include "audioManager.h"
 
 ConfigureDecl(config_openalAudio, EXPCL_OPENAL_AUDIO, EXPTP_OPENAL_AUDIO);
 NotifyCategoryDecl(openalAudio, EXPCL_OPENAL_AUDIO, EXPTP_OPENAL_AUDIO);
 
 extern EXPCL_OPENAL_AUDIO void init_libOpenALAudio();
+extern "C" EXPCL_OPENAL_AUDIO Create_AudioManager_proc *get_audio_manager_func_openal_audio();
 
 #endif //]
 
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/fmodAudioManager.cxx b/panda/src/audiotraits/fmodAudioManager.cxx
index 95afae4203..4d9fd85848 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/fmodAudioManager.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/fmodAudioManager.cxx
@@ -67,11 +67,12 @@ void fmod_audio_errcheck(const char *context, FMOD_RESULT result) {
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: Create_AudioManager
+//     Function: Create_FmodAudioManager
 //       Access: Private
 //  Description: Factory Function
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PT(AudioManager) Create_AudioManager() {
+AudioManager *Create_FmodAudioManager() {
+  audio_debug("Create_FmodAudioManager()");
   return new FmodAudioManager;
 }
 
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/fmodAudioManager.h b/panda/src/audiotraits/fmodAudioManager.h
index fa12a579cd..98539b4d97 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/fmodAudioManager.h
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/fmodAudioManager.h
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ private:
 
 };
 
-EXPCL_FMOD_AUDIO PT(AudioManager) Create_AudioManager();
+EXPCL_FMOD_AUDIO AudioManager *Create_FmodAudioManager();
 
 
 #endif //]
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/milesAudioManager.cxx b/panda/src/audiotraits/milesAudioManager.cxx
index 10878f1519..23fdff57b6 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/milesAudioManager.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/milesAudioManager.cxx
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@
 
 TypeHandle MilesAudioManager::_type_handle;
 
-PT(AudioManager) Create_AudioManager() {
-  audio_debug("Create_AudioManager() Miles.");
+AudioManager *Create_MilesAudioManager() {
+  audio_debug("Create_MilesAudioManager()");
   return new MilesAudioManager();
 }
 
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/milesAudioManager.h b/panda/src/audiotraits/milesAudioManager.h
index e976796f29..7a557d6e4d 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/milesAudioManager.h
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/milesAudioManager.h
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ private:
   friend class MilesAudioStream;
 };
 
-EXPCL_MILES_AUDIO PT(AudioManager) Create_AudioManager();
+EXPCL_MILES_AUDIO AudioManager *Create_MilesAudioManager();
 
 
 #endif //]
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/openalAudioManager.cxx b/panda/src/audiotraits/openalAudioManager.cxx
index 4a58ae5b6a..c45bf74077 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/openalAudioManager.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/openalAudioManager.cxx
@@ -61,11 +61,12 @@ void alc_audio_errcheck(const char *context,ALCdevice* device) {
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: Create_AudioManager
+//     Function: Create_OpenALAudioManager
 //       Access: Private
 //  Description: Factory Function
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PT(AudioManager) Create_AudioManager() {
+AudioManager *Create_OpenALAudioManager() {
+  audio_debug("Create_OpenALAudioManager()");
   return new OpenALAudioManager;
 }
 
diff --git a/panda/src/audiotraits/openalAudioManager.h b/panda/src/audiotraits/openalAudioManager.h
index a0d343c5a9..25d45d532a 100644
--- a/panda/src/audiotraits/openalAudioManager.h
+++ b/panda/src/audiotraits/openalAudioManager.h
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ private:
 
 };
 
-EXPCL_OPENAL_AUDIO PT(AudioManager) Create_AudioManager();
+EXPCL_OPENAL_AUDIO AudioManager *Create_AudioManager();
 
 
 #endif //]