diff --git a/ultragrid/src/audio/capture/alsa.c b/ultragrid/src/audio/capture/alsa.c
index 2d8922073..67d33f9be 100644
--- a/ultragrid/src/audio/capture/alsa.c
+++ b/ultragrid/src/audio/capture/alsa.c
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ void * audio_cap_alsa_init(char *cfg)
         s->frame.sample_rate = 48000;
         s->frame.ch_count = 2;
 
-        if(cfg) {
+        if(cfg && strlen(cfg) > 0) {
                 name = cfg;
         }
 
diff --git a/ultragrid/src/audio/playback/alsa.c b/ultragrid/src/audio/playback/alsa.c
index c36f8ec61..01beb2a5b 100644
--- a/ultragrid/src/audio/playback/alsa.c
+++ b/ultragrid/src/audio/playback/alsa.c
@@ -197,10 +197,11 @@ void * audio_play_alsa_init(char *cfg)
         char *name;
 
         s = calloc(1, sizeof(struct state_alsa_playback));
-        if(cfg)
+        if(cfg && strlen(cfg) > 0) {
                 name = cfg;
-        else
+        } else {
                 name = "default";
+        }
         rc = snd_pcm_open(&s->handle, name,
                                             SND_PCM_STREAM_PLAYBACK, 0);