diff --git a/stepmania/src/RageSoundManager.cpp b/stepmania/src/RageSoundManager.cpp
index 1f6cf9f533..f8002b034a 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/RageSoundManager.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/RageSoundManager.cpp
@@ -33,24 +33,17 @@ static RageMutex g_SoundManMutex("SoundMan");
 
 RageSoundManager *SOUNDMAN = NULL;
 
-RageSoundManager::RageSoundManager(CString drivers)
+RageSoundManager::RageSoundManager()
 {
-	/* needs to be done first */
-	SOUNDMAN = this;
-
-	try
-	{
-		MixVolume = 1.0f;
-
-		driver = MakeRageSoundDriver(drivers);
-		if(!driver)
-			RageException::Throw("Couldn't find a sound driver that works");
-	} catch(...) {
-		SOUNDMAN = NULL;
-		throw;
-	}
-
 	pos_map_queue.reserve( 1024 );
+	MixVolume = 1.0f;
+}
+
+void RageSoundManager::Init( CString drivers )
+{
+	driver = MakeRageSoundDriver(drivers);
+	if( driver == NULL )
+		RageException::Throw( "Couldn't find a sound driver that works" );
 }
 
 RageSoundManager::~RageSoundManager()
diff --git a/stepmania/src/RageSoundManager.h b/stepmania/src/RageSoundManager.h
index d90c724ca2..2cd4158904 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/RageSoundManager.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/RageSoundManager.h
@@ -33,8 +33,9 @@ class RageSoundManager
 	CircBuf<queued_pos_map_t> pos_map_queue;
 
 public:
-	RageSoundManager(CString drivers);
+	RageSoundManager();
 	~RageSoundManager();
+	void Init( CString drivers );
 
 	float GetMixVolume() const { return MixVolume; }
 	void SetPrefs(float MixVol);
diff --git a/stepmania/src/StepMania.cpp b/stepmania/src/StepMania.cpp
index 5cc6dc7be4..02008d8f19 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/StepMania.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/StepMania.cpp
@@ -1041,8 +1041,9 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 	NOTESKIN	= new NoteSkinManager;
 	if( PREFSMAN->m_iSoundWriteAhead )
 		LOG->Info( "Sound writeahead has been overridden to %i", PREFSMAN->m_iSoundWriteAhead );
-	SOUNDMAN	= new RageSoundManager(PREFSMAN->m_sSoundDrivers);
-	SOUNDMAN->SetPrefs(PREFSMAN->m_fSoundVolume);
+	SOUNDMAN	= new RageSoundManager;
+	SOUNDMAN->Init( PREFSMAN->m_sSoundDrivers );
+	SOUNDMAN->SetPrefs( PREFSMAN->m_fSoundVolume );
 	SOUND		= new RageSounds;
 	BOOKKEEPER	= new Bookkeeper;
 	LIGHTSMAN	= new LightsManager(PREFSMAN->m_sLightsDriver);