diff --git a/audio/audio_template.h b/audio/audio_template.h
index 235d1acbbe..1006d6b1eb 100644
--- a/audio/audio_template.h
+++ b/audio/audio_template.h
@@ -425,8 +425,8 @@ SW *glue (AUD_open_, TYPE) (
     struct audsettings *as
     )
 {
-    AudioState *s = card->state;
-    AudiodevPerDirectionOptions *pdo = glue(audio_get_pdo_, TYPE)(s->dev);
+    AudioState *s;
+    AudiodevPerDirectionOptions *pdo;
 
     if (audio_bug(__func__, !card || !name || !callback_fn || !as)) {
         dolog ("card=%p name=%p callback_fn=%p as=%p\n",
@@ -434,6 +434,9 @@ SW *glue (AUD_open_, TYPE) (
         goto fail;
     }
 
+    s = card->state;
+    pdo = glue(audio_get_pdo_, TYPE)(s->dev);
+
     ldebug ("open %s, freq %d, nchannels %d, fmt %d\n",
             name, as->freq, as->nchannels, as->fmt);