--- a/src/system/sound.rs
+++ b/src/system/sound.rs
@@ -6,25 +6,21 @@
 
 use crate::{senders, system::SystemModule};
 
-/// Gets the default mixer. Throws an error if it doesn't exist (this means you probably don't have ALSA installed)
+/// Gets the default mixer. Returns None if it doesn't exist (yet), e.g. if the sound server hasn't started
 macro_rules! mixer {
     () => {
-        Mixer::new("default", false).expect("[fatal] alsa: Could not find a mixer named \"default\". gaypanel assumes this is the name of the default mixer. \n[fatal] alsa: **If you have ALSA installed and running and you're *sure* of it, open an issue at codeberg.org/pastthepixels/gaypanel!**")
+        Mixer::new("default", false).ok()
     };
 }
 
 /// Finds the first selem with a playback volume in a mixer. Assumes this is the "default"
 /// e.g. this reflects the actual output volume. I don't know how alsa works.
-/// You must have a speaker of some kind or else this'll crap out
+/// Returns None if there's no speaker of some kind (yet)
 macro_rules! sink {
     ($m: expr) => {
         $m.iter()
             .flat_map(|e| Selem::new(e))
             .find(|s| s.has_playback_volume())
-            .expect(&format!(
-                "[fatal] alsa: Could not find default sink for mixer {:?}",
-                $m
-            ))
     };
 }
 
@@ -54,9 +50,9 @@
     senders!(VolumeModule);
 
     fn get() -> Option<Self::ReturnType> {
-        let mixer = mixer!();
+        let mixer = mixer!()?;
         // Sink stats
-        let sink = sink!(mixer);
+        let sink = sink!(mixer)?;
         let vol = {
             let max = sink.get_playback_volume_range().1 as f64;
             let raw_vol = sink
@@ -101,8 +97,12 @@
 
     fn set(val: Self::ReturnType) {
         // Sets sink volume
-        let mixer = mixer!();
-        let sink = sink!(mixer);
+        let Some(mixer) = mixer!() else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let Some(sink) = sink!(mixer) else {
+            return;
+        };
         let max = sink.get_playback_volume_range().1 as f64;
         sink.set_playback_volume_all((val.0.volume * max) as i64)
             .unwrap();
@@ -118,8 +118,17 @@
 
     fn listen() {
         std::thread::spawn(|| {
-            let mixer = mixer!();
-            let sink = sink!(mixer);
+            // Wait for the sound server to provide a mixer with a sink
+            let mixer = loop {
+                if let Some(mixer) = mixer!() {
+                    let has_sink = sink!(mixer).is_some();
+                    if has_sink {
+                        break mixer;
+                    }
+                }
+                std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(1));
+            };
+            let sink = sink!(mixer).unwrap();
             let source = source!(mixer);
             let mut pollfds = mixer.get().unwrap();
 
--- a/src/widgets/controls.rs
+++ b/src/widgets/controls.rs
@@ -400,7 +400,10 @@
                 gtk::EventControllerScroll::new(gtk::EventControllerScrollFlags::VERTICAL);
             controller.connect_scroll(|_, _, b| {
                 glib::spawn_future_local(async move {
-                    let sound = (system::sound::VolumeModule::get().unwrap().0.volume
+                    let Some(stats) = system::sound::VolumeModule::get() else {
+                        return;
+                    };
+                    let sound = (stats.0.volume
                         - b.signum() * VOLUME_SCROLL_STEP)
                         .clamp(0., 1.);
                     system::sound::VolumeModule::set((
@@ -420,7 +423,10 @@
             // Setup volume
             let this = glib::clone::Downgrade::downgrade(&self);
             let rx = system::sound::VolumeModule::rx();
-            self.update_sound(system::sound::VolumeModule::get().unwrap());
+            // The listener sends an update once sound is available, so it's fine to skip this
+            if let Some(stats) = system::sound::VolumeModule::get() {
+                self.update_sound(stats);
+            }
             glib::spawn_future_local(async move {
                 while let Ok(stats) = rx.recv().await {
                     if let Some(this) = this.upgrade() {