diff --git a/libs/backends/dummy/dummy_audiobackend.cc b/libs/backends/dummy/dummy_audiobackend.cc
index 47632f486d..91d27fb8cd 100644
--- a/libs/backends/dummy/dummy_audiobackend.cc
+++ b/libs/backends/dummy/dummy_audiobackend.cc
@@ -1291,6 +1291,9 @@ deinstantiate ()
 static bool
 already_configured ()
 {
+	if (_instance) {
+		return _instance->is_running();
+	}
 	return false;
 }
 
diff --git a/libs/backends/dummy/dummy_audiobackend.h b/libs/backends/dummy/dummy_audiobackend.h
index 392ec7b3c2..52f2f6e30a 100644
--- a/libs/backends/dummy/dummy_audiobackend.h
+++ b/libs/backends/dummy/dummy_audiobackend.h
@@ -213,6 +213,8 @@ class DummyAudioBackend : public AudioBackend {
 	         DummyAudioBackend (AudioEngine& e, AudioBackendInfo& info);
 		~DummyAudioBackend ();
 
+		bool is_running () const { return _running; }
+
 		/* AUDIOBACKEND API */
 
 		std::string name () const;