diff --git a/intern/audaspace/intern/AUD_C-API.cpp b/intern/audaspace/intern/AUD_C-API.cpp
index f7394e36c4d..32cfd2098b0 100644
--- a/intern/audaspace/intern/AUD_C-API.cpp
+++ b/intern/audaspace/intern/AUD_C-API.cpp
@@ -84,11 +84,15 @@ static AUD_IDevice* AUD_device = NULL;
 static int AUD_available_devices[4];
 static AUD_I3DDevice* AUD_3ddevice = NULL;
 
-int AUD_init(AUD_DeviceType device, AUD_DeviceSpecs specs, int buffersize)
+void AUD_initOnce()
 {
 #ifdef WITH_FFMPEG
 	av_register_all();
 #endif
+}
+
+int AUD_init(AUD_DeviceType device, AUD_DeviceSpecs specs, int buffersize)
+{
 	AUD_IDevice* dev = NULL;
 
 	if(AUD_device)
diff --git a/intern/audaspace/intern/AUD_C-API.h b/intern/audaspace/intern/AUD_C-API.h
index a7372c29885..55aed02153f 100644
--- a/intern/audaspace/intern/AUD_C-API.h
+++ b/intern/audaspace/intern/AUD_C-API.h
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ typedef struct
 	typedef void (*AUD_syncFunction)(void*, int, float);
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * Initializes FFMPEG if it is enabled.
+ */
+extern void AUD_initOnce();
+
 /**
  * Initializes an audio device.
  * \param device The device type that should be used.
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_sound.h b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_sound.h
index b89767d2586..50c86e80b08 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_sound.h
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_sound.h
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ struct ListBase;
 struct Main;
 struct Sequence;
 
+void sound_init_once();
+
 void sound_init(struct Main *main);
 
 void sound_exit();
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/sound.c b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/sound.c
index fc003b12959..24e5014a741 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/sound.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/sound.c
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ void sound_force_device(int device)
 	force_device = device;
 }
 
+void sound_init_once()
+{
+	AUD_initOnce();
+}
+
 void sound_init(struct Main *bmain)
 {
 	AUD_DeviceSpecs specs;
diff --git a/source/creator/creator.c b/source/creator/creator.c
index 68b99b20d01..436275e8c6b 100644
--- a/source/creator/creator.c
+++ b/source/creator/creator.c
@@ -1001,6 +1001,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	
 	/* background render uses this font too */
 	BKE_font_register_builtin(datatoc_Bfont, datatoc_Bfont_size);
+
+	/* Initialiaze ffmpeg if built in, also needed for bg mode if videos are
+	   rendered via ffmpeg */
+	sound_init_once();
 	
 	init_def_material();
 
@@ -1015,11 +1019,13 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 #ifndef DISABLE_SDL
 	BLI_setenv("SDL_VIDEODRIVER", "dummy");
+/* I think this is not necessary anymore (04-24-2010 neXyon)
 #ifdef __linux__
-	/* On linux the default SDL driver dma often would not play
-	 * use alsa if none is set */
+	// On linux the default SDL driver dma often would not play
+	// use alsa if none is set
 	setenv("SDL_AUDIODRIVER", "alsa", 0);
 #endif
+*/
 #endif
 	}
 	else {