diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 98bf00817..a735f884d 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ ver 0.18 (2012/??/??)
 * improved decoder/output error reporting
 * eliminate timer wakeup on idle MPD
 
+ver 0.17.6 (not yet released)
+* mixer:
+  - alsa: fix busy loop when USB sound device gets unplugged
+
 ver 0.17.5 (2013/08/04)
 * protocol:
   - fix "playlistadd" with URI
diff --git a/src/mixer/AlsaMixerPlugin.cxx b/src/mixer/AlsaMixerPlugin.cxx
index 1ea26d0c1..13e3283f0 100644
--- a/src/mixer/AlsaMixerPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/mixer/AlsaMixerPlugin.cxx
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 static constexpr unsigned VOLUME_MIXER_ALSA_INDEX_DEFAULT = 0;
 
 class AlsaMixerMonitor final : private MultiSocketMonitor {
-	snd_mixer_t *const mixer;
+	snd_mixer_t *mixer;
 
 	ReusableArray<pollfd> pfd_buffer;
 
@@ -83,6 +83,9 @@ static constexpr Domain alsa_mixer_domain("alsa_mixer");
 int
 AlsaMixerMonitor::PrepareSockets()
 {
+	if (mixer == nullptr)
+		return -1;
+
 	int count = snd_mixer_poll_descriptors_count(mixer);
 	if (count < 0)
 		count = 0;
@@ -117,7 +120,21 @@ AlsaMixerMonitor::PrepareSockets()
 void
 AlsaMixerMonitor::DispatchSockets()
 {
-	snd_mixer_handle_events(mixer);
+	assert(mixer != nullptr);
+
+	int err = snd_mixer_handle_events(mixer);
+	if (err < 0) {
+		g_warning("snd_mixer_handle_events() failed: %s",
+			  snd_strerror(err));
+
+		if (err == -ENODEV) {
+			/* the sound device was unplugged; disable
+			   this GSource */
+			mixer = nullptr;
+			InvalidateSockets();
+			return;
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 /*