diff --git a/miniaudio.h b/miniaudio.h
index b87fc431..9d63253d 100644
--- a/miniaudio.h
+++ b/miniaudio.h
@@ -41181,7 +41181,17 @@ static ma_result ma_context_init__audio4(ma_context* pContext, const void* pCont
     const ma_context_config_audio4* pContextConfigAudio4 = (const ma_context_config_audio4*)pContextBackendConfig;
     ma_context_config_audio4 defaultConfigAudio4;
 
-    
+    /* Check if /dev/audioctl actually exists. If not, the backend cannot be used. */
+    #if !defined(MA_AUDIO4_USE_NEW_API)    /* Old API */
+    {
+        struct stat stDefault;
+
+        if (stat("/dev/audioctl", &stDefault) < 0) {
+            ma_log_postf(ma_context_get_log(pContext), MA_LOG_LEVEL_ERROR, "[audio4] Failed to open /dev/audioctl. Backend not usable.");
+            return MA_NO_BACKEND;
+        }
+    }
+    #endif
 
     if (pContextConfigAudio4 == NULL) {
         defaultConfigAudio4  = ma_context_config_audio4_init();
@@ -41578,11 +41588,6 @@ static ma_result ma_context_enumerate_devices__audio4(ma_context* pContext, ma_e
         int iDevice;
         struct stat stDefault;
 
-        if (stat("/dev/audioctl", &stDefault) < 0) {
-            ma_log_postf(ma_context_get_log(pContext), MA_LOG_LEVEL_ERROR, "[audio4] Failed to open /dev/audioctl. Backend not usable.");
-            return MA_NO_BACKEND;
-        }
-
         /*
         Every device will be named "/dev/audioN", with a "/dev/audioctlN" equivalent. We use the "/dev/audioctlN"
         version here since we can open it even when another process has control of the "/dev/audioN" device.