diff --git a/src/output/OutputThread.cxx b/src/output/OutputThread.cxx
index 274d3cac7..9c9412657 100644
--- a/src/output/OutputThread.cxx
+++ b/src/output/OutputThread.cxx
@@ -597,9 +597,13 @@ AudioOutput::Pause()
 			break;
 
 		bool success;
-		{
+		try {
 			const ScopeUnlock unlock(mutex);
 			success = ao_plugin_pause(this);
+		} catch (const std::runtime_error &e) {
+			FormatError(e, "\"%s\" [%s] failed to pause",
+				    name, plugin.name);
+			success = false;
 		}
 
 		if (!success) {