diff --git a/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc b/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
index 28666cd9db..aa6239794f 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ AudioEngine::AudioEngine ()
 	, _stopped_for_latency (false)
 	, _started_for_latency (false)
 	, _in_destructor (false)
-	, _last_backend_error_string(AudioBackend::get_error_string((AudioBackend::ErrorCode)-1))
+	, _last_backend_error_string(AudioBackend::get_error_string(AudioBackend::NoError))
 	, _hw_reset_event_thread(0)
 	, _hw_reset_request_count(0)
 	, _stop_hw_reset_processing(0)