diff --git a/libs/backends/alsa/zita-alsa-pcmi.cc b/libs/backends/alsa/zita-alsa-pcmi.cc
index 10b8e08831..5aba08c786 100644
--- a/libs/backends/alsa/zita-alsa-pcmi.cc
+++ b/libs/backends/alsa/zita-alsa-pcmi.cc
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ void Alsa_pcmi::initialise (const char *play_name, const char *capt_name, const
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (! _play_handle && ! _capt_handle) return;
+	if (! _play_handle || ! _capt_handle) return;
 
 	if (ctrl_name)
 	{