diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/sound/SoundManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/sound/SoundManager.java
index 997902d30..278c4fe44 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/sound/SoundManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/sound/SoundManager.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: SoundManager.java,v 1.18 2002/11/19 02:24:35 ray Exp $
+// $Id: SoundManager.java,v 1.19 2002/11/19 21:17:35 ray Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.media;
 
@@ -101,8 +101,6 @@ public class SoundManager
         // save things off
         _rmgr = rmgr;
 
-        initMidi();
-
         // create a thread to plays sounds and load sound
         // data from the resource manager
         _player = new Thread() {
@@ -473,6 +471,10 @@ public class SoundManager
      */
     protected void playSequence (MidiInfo info)
     {
+        if (_sequencer == null) {
+            initMidi();
+        }
+
         stopCurrentSong(false);
         _midiStack.addFirst(info);
         playTopSong();