diff --git a/src/mixer/software_mixer_plugin.c b/src/mixer/software_mixer_plugin.c
index 2fcacd46d..062b9b3ef 100644
--- a/src/mixer/software_mixer_plugin.c
+++ b/src/mixer/software_mixer_plugin.c
@@ -61,23 +61,6 @@ software_mixer_finish(struct mixer *data)
 	g_free(sm);
 }
 
-static bool
-software_mixer_open(struct mixer *data, G_GNUC_UNUSED GError **error_r)
-{
-	struct software_mixer *sm = (struct software_mixer *)data;
-
-	(void)sm;
-	return true;
-}
-
-static void
-software_mixer_close(struct mixer *data)
-{
-	struct software_mixer *sm = (struct software_mixer *)data;
-
-	(void)sm;
-}
-
 static int
 software_mixer_get_volume(struct mixer *mixer, G_GNUC_UNUSED GError **error_r)
 {
@@ -109,8 +92,6 @@ software_mixer_set_volume(struct mixer *mixer, unsigned volume,
 const struct mixer_plugin software_mixer_plugin = {
 	.init = software_mixer_init,
 	.finish = software_mixer_finish,
-	.open = software_mixer_open,
-	.close = software_mixer_close,
 	.get_volume = software_mixer_get_volume,
 	.set_volume = software_mixer_set_volume,
 	.global = true,
diff --git a/src/mixer_control.c b/src/mixer_control.c
index df1e43003..7def51cb2 100644
--- a/src/mixer_control.c
+++ b/src/mixer_control.c
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ mixer_open(struct mixer *mixer, GError **error_r)
 
 	if (mixer->open)
 		success = true;
+	else if (mixer->plugin->open == NULL)
+		success = mixer->open = true;
 	else
 		success = mixer->open = mixer->plugin->open(mixer, error_r);
 
@@ -83,7 +85,9 @@ mixer_close_internal(struct mixer *mixer)
 	assert(mixer->plugin != NULL);
 	assert(mixer->open);
 
-	mixer->plugin->close(mixer);
+	if (mixer->plugin->close != NULL)
+		mixer->plugin->close(mixer);
+
 	mixer->open = false;
 }