diff --git a/src/pcm_volume.c b/src/pcm_volume.c
index 383caecca..49b0f9fb7 100644
--- a/src/pcm_volume.c
+++ b/src/pcm_volume.c
@@ -112,36 +112,35 @@ pcm_volume_change_24(int32_t *buffer, unsigned num_samples, int volume)
 	}
 }
 
-void
+bool
 pcm_volume(void *buffer, int length,
 	   const struct audio_format *format,
 	   int volume)
 {
 	if (volume == PCM_VOLUME_1)
-		return;
+		return true;
 
 	if (volume <= 0) {
 		memset(buffer, 0, length);
-		return;
+		return true;
 	}
 
 	switch (format->bits) {
 	case 8:
 		pcm_volume_change_8((int8_t *)buffer, length, volume);
-		break;
+		return true;
 
 	case 16:
 		pcm_volume_change_16((int16_t *)buffer, length / 2,
 				     volume);
-		break;
+		return true;
 
 	case 24:
 		pcm_volume_change_24((int32_t*)buffer, length / 4,
 				     volume);
-		break;
+		return true;
 
 	default:
-		g_error("%u bits not supported by pcm_volume!\n",
-			format->bits);
+		return false;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/pcm_volume.h b/src/pcm_volume.h
index 1b5e7fb0e..e21ea6f56 100644
--- a/src/pcm_volume.h
+++ b/src/pcm_volume.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "pcm_prng.h"
 
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
 
 enum {
 	/** this value means "100% volume" */
@@ -62,8 +63,9 @@ pcm_volume_dither(void)
  * @param length the length of the PCM buffer
  * @param format the audio format of the PCM buffer
  * @param volume the volume between 0 and #PCM_VOLUME_1
+ * @return true on success, false if the audio format is not supported
  */
-void
+bool
 pcm_volume(void *buffer, int length,
 	   const struct audio_format *format,
 	   int volume);
diff --git a/src/player_thread.c b/src/player_thread.c
index 24942fbfd..fb3e9bf68 100644
--- a/src/player_thread.c
+++ b/src/player_thread.c
@@ -238,6 +238,8 @@ static bool
 play_chunk(struct song *song, struct music_chunk *chunk,
 	   const struct audio_format *format, double sizeToTime)
 {
+	bool success;
+
 	pc.elapsed_time = chunk->times;
 	pc.bit_rate = chunk->bit_rate;
 
@@ -266,8 +268,15 @@ play_chunk(struct song *song, struct music_chunk *chunk,
 	if (chunk->length == 0)
 		return true;
 
-	pcm_volume(chunk->data, chunk->length,
-		   format, pc.software_volume);
+	success = pcm_volume(chunk->data, chunk->length,
+			     format, pc.software_volume);
+	if (!success) {
+		g_warning("pcm_volume() failed on %u:%u:%u",
+			  format->sample_rate, format->bits, format->channels);
+		pc.errored_song = dc.current_song;
+		pc.error = PLAYER_ERROR_AUDIO;
+		return false;
+	}
 
 	if (!audio_output_all_play(chunk->data, chunk->length)) {
 		pc.errored_song = dc.current_song;
diff --git a/test/read_tags.c b/test/read_tags.c
index cdee3722f..1b223f074 100644
--- a/test/read_tags.c
+++ b/test/read_tags.c
@@ -32,11 +32,12 @@
 /**
  * No-op dummy.
  */
-void
+bool
 pcm_volume(G_GNUC_UNUSED void *buffer, G_GNUC_UNUSED int length,
 	   G_GNUC_UNUSED const struct audio_format *format,
 	   G_GNUC_UNUSED int volume)
 {
+	return true;
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/test/run_decoder.c b/test/run_decoder.c
index 8d11494c7..6bd331b02 100644
--- a/test/run_decoder.c
+++ b/test/run_decoder.c
@@ -30,11 +30,12 @@
 /**
  * No-op dummy.
  */
-void
+bool
 pcm_volume(G_GNUC_UNUSED void *buffer, G_GNUC_UNUSED int length,
 	   G_GNUC_UNUSED const struct audio_format *format,
 	   G_GNUC_UNUSED int volume)
 {
+	return true;
 }
 
 struct decoder {