diff --git a/src/modules/alsa/alsa-sink.c b/src/modules/alsa/alsa-sink.c
index ca22f195f..035596500 100644
--- a/src/modules/alsa/alsa-sink.c
+++ b/src/modules/alsa/alsa-sink.c
@@ -2005,8 +2005,16 @@ static void thread_func(void *userdata) {
             if (work_done) {
 
                 if (u->first) {
+                    int err;
+
                     pa_log_info("Starting playback.");
-                    snd_pcm_start(u->pcm_handle);
+                    if ((err = snd_pcm_start(u->pcm_handle)) < 0) {
+                        if ((err = try_recover(u, "snd_pcm_start", err)) < 0)
+                            goto fail;
+
+                        /* Recovery resets startup state; retry in next loop iteration. */
+                        continue;
+                    }
 
 #ifdef USE_SMOOTHER_2
                     pa_smoother_2_resume(u->smoother, pa_rtclock_now());