diff --git a/sys/dev/sound/pcm/sound.c b/sys/dev/sound/pcm/sound.c
--- a/sys/dev/sound/pcm/sound.c
+++ b/sys/dev/sound/pcm/sound.c
@@ -293,6 +293,7 @@
 	vchan_setmaxauto(d, snd_maxautovchans);
 
 	strlcpy(d->status, str, SND_STATUSLEN);
+	sndstat_register(dev, d->status);
 
 	PCM_LOCK(d);
 
@@ -509,8 +510,6 @@
 	if (numplay > 0 || numrec > 0)
 		d->flags |= SD_F_AUTOVCHAN;
 
-	sndstat_register(dev, d->status);
-
 	return (0);
 }