diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 0e824dd99..5a0a8cb95 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@
 
 *) have children ignore SIGHUP
 
+*) put more debugging info when failing to read/write db and other similar 
+	errors
+
 Post-1.0
 --------
 *) crosslink "list" stuff, for example, artists are crosslinked to alubms and 
diff --git a/src/audio.h b/src/audio.h
index 73ad73336..791b7889f 100644
--- a/src/audio.h
+++ b/src/audio.h
@@ -65,4 +65,10 @@ int isCurrentAudioFormat(AudioFormat * audioFormat);
 
 void sendMetadataToAudioDevice(MpdTag * tag);
 
+/* these functions are called in the main parent process while the child
+	process is busy playing to the audio */
+int enableAudioDevice(FILE * fp, int device);
+
+int disableAudioDevice(FILE * fp, int device);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/audioOutputs/audioOutput_shout.c b/src/audioOutputs/audioOutput_shout.c
index 12ef8c968..414fcdfde 100644
--- a/src/audioOutputs/audioOutput_shout.c
+++ b/src/audioOutputs/audioOutput_shout.c
@@ -289,6 +289,10 @@ static void myShout_finishDriver(AudioOutput * audioOutput) {
 }
 
 static void myShout_closeDevice(AudioOutput * audioOutput) {
+	ShoutData * sd = (ShoutData *)audioOutput->data;
+
+	myShout_closeShoutConn(sd);
+
 	audioOutput->open = 0;
 }
 
@@ -376,7 +380,9 @@ static int myShout_openShoutConn(AudioOutput * audioOutput) {
 	ShoutData * sd = (ShoutData *)audioOutput->data;
 	time_t t = time(NULL);
 
-	if(t - sd->lastAttempt < CONN_ATTEMPT_INTERVAL) {
+	if(sd->connAttempts!= 0 && 
+			(t - sd->lastAttempt) < CONN_ATTEMPT_INTERVAL) 
+	{
 		return -1;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/command.c b/src/command.c
index 2155485a1..a98c1cf1f 100644
--- a/src/command.c
+++ b/src/command.c
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@
 #define COMMAND_URL_HANDLERS   	"urlhandlers" 
 #define COMMAND_PLCHANGES	"plchanges" 
 #define COMMAND_CURRENTSONG	"currentsong" 
+#define COMMAND_ENABLE_DEV	"enable_device"
+#define COMMAND_DISABLE_DEV	"disable_device"
 
 #define COMMAND_STATUS_VOLUME           "volume"
 #define COMMAND_STATUS_STATE            "state"
@@ -756,6 +758,38 @@ int handleCrossfade(FILE * fp, unsigned int * permission, int argArrayLength,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+int handleEnableDevice(FILE * fp, unsigned int * permission, int argArrayLength,
+		char ** argArray) 
+{
+        int device;
+        char * test;
+
+        device = strtol(argArray[1],&test,10);
+        if(*test!='\0' || device<0) {
+                commandError(fp, ACK_ERROR_ARG, 
+				"\"%s\" is not a integer >= 0", argArray[1]);
+                return -1;
+        }
+
+	return enableAudioDevice(fp, device);
+}
+
+int handleDisableDevice(FILE * fp, unsigned int * permission, 
+		int argArrayLength, char ** argArray) 
+{
+        int device;
+        char * test;
+
+        device = strtol(argArray[1],&test,10);
+        if(*test!='\0' || device<0) {
+                commandError(fp, ACK_ERROR_ARG, 
+				"\"%s\" is not a integer >= 0", argArray[1]);
+                return -1;
+        }
+
+	return disableAudioDevice(fp, device);
+}
+
 void initCommands() {
         commandList = makeList(free);
 
@@ -804,6 +838,8 @@ void initCommands() {
         addCommand(COMMAND_CROSSFADE   ,PERMISSION_CONTROL, 1, 1,handleCrossfade,NULL);
         addCommand(COMMAND_URL_HANDLERS,PERMISSION_READ,    0, 0,handleUrlHandlers,NULL);
         addCommand(COMMAND_PLCHANGES   ,PERMISSION_READ,    1, 1,handlePlaylistChanges,NULL);
+        addCommand(COMMAND_ENABLE_DEV  ,PERMISSION_ADMIN,   1, 1,handleEnableDevice,NULL);
+        addCommand(COMMAND_DISABLE_DEV ,PERMISSION_ADMIN,   1, 1,handleDisableDevice,NULL);
 
         sortList(commandList);
 }