diff --git a/panda/src/audio/audio_manager.I b/panda/src/audio/audio_manager.I
index 63390edf26..a6d0d38b8b 100644
--- a/panda/src/audio/audio_manager.I
+++ b/panda/src/audio/audio_manager.I
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ INLINE bool AudioManager::get_loop(AudioSound* sound) {
 //               in the universe and it constructs itself.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE AudioManager::AudioManager(void) {
-  _sfx_active = audio_sfx_active;
-  _music_active = audio_music_active;
+  _sfx_active = _hard_sfx_active = audio_sfx_active;
+  _music_active = _hard_music_active = audio_music_active;
   _master_sfx_volume = audio_master_sfx_volume;
   _master_music_volume = audio_master_music_volume;
 }
@@ -164,7 +164,11 @@ INLINE bool AudioManager::get_all_sound_active(void) {
 //  Description: turn on/off SFX
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE void AudioManager::set_sfx_active(bool f) {
-  AudioManager::_sfx_active = f;
+  if (f) {
+    if (AudioManager::_hard_sfx_active)
+      AudioManager::_sfx_active = f;
+  } else
+    AudioManager::_sfx_active = f;
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -173,7 +177,11 @@ INLINE void AudioManager::set_sfx_active(bool f) {
 //  Description: turn on/off music
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE void AudioManager::set_music_active(bool f) {
-  AudioManager::_music_active = f;
+  if (f) {
+    if (AudioManager::_hard_music_active)
+      AudioManager::_music_active = f;
+  } else
+    AudioManager::_music_active = f;
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -193,3 +201,25 @@ INLINE bool AudioManager::get_sfx_active(void) {
 INLINE bool AudioManager::get_music_active(void) {
   return AudioManager::_music_active;
 }
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: AudioManager::set_hard_sfx_active
+//       Access: Public, Static
+//  Description: set the hardware availability state for SFX
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE void AudioManager::set_hard_sfx_active(bool f) {
+  AudioManager::_hard_sfx_active = f;
+  if (!f)
+    AudioManager::_sfx_active = f;
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: AudioManager::set_hard_music_active
+//       Access: Public, Static
+//  Description: set the hardware availability state for music
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE void AudioManager::set_hard_music_active(bool f) {
+  AudioManager::_hard_music_active = f;
+  if (!f)
+    AudioManager::_music_active = f;
+}
diff --git a/panda/src/audio/audio_manager.cxx b/panda/src/audio/audio_manager.cxx
index d2aab2975b..f6971a2771 100644
--- a/panda/src/audio/audio_manager.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/audio/audio_manager.cxx
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ AudioManager::LoopSet* AudioManager::_loopset = (AudioManager::LoopSet*)0L;
 AudioManager::LoopSet* AudioManager::_loopcopy = (AudioManager::LoopSet*)0L;
 bool AudioManager::_sfx_active = false;
 bool AudioManager::_music_active = false;
+bool AudioManager::_hard_sfx_active = false;
+bool AudioManager::_hard_music_active = false;
 bool AudioManager::_master_volume_change = false;
 float AudioManager::_master_sfx_volume = 0.;
 float AudioManager::_master_music_volume = 0.;
diff --git a/panda/src/audio/audio_manager.h b/panda/src/audio/audio_manager.h
index 797149fb06..36cee339ea 100644
--- a/panda/src/audio/audio_manager.h
+++ b/panda/src/audio/audio_manager.h
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ private:
   static LoopSet* _loopcopy;
   static bool _sfx_active;
   static bool _music_active;
+  static bool _hard_sfx_active;
+  static bool _hard_music_active;
   static float _master_sfx_volume;
   static float _master_music_volume;
   static bool _master_volume_change;
@@ -72,6 +74,9 @@ PUBLISHED:
   INLINE static void set_music_active(bool);
   INLINE static bool get_sfx_active(void);
   INLINE static bool get_music_active(void);
+public:
+  INLINE static void set_hard_sfx_active(bool);
+  INLINE static void set_hard_music_active(bool);
 };
 
 #include "audio_manager.I"
diff --git a/panda/src/audio/audio_win_traits.cxx b/panda/src/audio/audio_win_traits.cxx
index da9086d933..b4e1b26a40 100644
--- a/panda/src/audio/audio_win_traits.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/audio/audio_win_traits.cxx
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ static IDirectSound* musicDirectSound = NULL;
   if (FAILED(_result)) { \
     audio_cat->error() << _msg << " at " << __FILE__ << ":" << __LINE__ \
                        << endl; \
-    AudioManager::set_sfx_active(false); \
+    AudioManager::set_hard_sfx_active(false); \
     return; \
   }
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ static IDirectSound* musicDirectSound = NULL;
   if (FAILED(_result)) { \
     audio_cat->error() << _msg << " at " << __FILE__ << ":" << __LINE__ \
                        << endl; \
-    AudioManager::set_music_active(false); \
+    AudioManager::set_hard_music_active(false); \
     return; \
   }