diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/openal/SoundManager.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/openal/SoundManager.java
index 75f1026a..914ecd9d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/openal/SoundManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/openal/SoundManager.java
@@ -202,8 +202,6 @@ public class SoundManager
     {
         _rqueue = rqueue;
 
-        AL10.alGetError(); // throw away any unchecked error prior to an op we want to check
-
         // initialize the OpenAL sound system
         try {
             AL.create("", 44100, 15, false);