diff --git a/src/core/AudioInterface.cpp b/src/core/AudioInterface.cpp
index 2f8efef3..d512a905 100644
--- a/src/core/AudioInterface.cpp
+++ b/src/core/AudioInterface.cpp
@@ -7,13 +7,18 @@
 
 using namespace rack;
 
+static bool initialized = false;
 
 void audioInit() {
+	if (initialized)
+		return;
+
 	PaError err = Pa_Initialize();
 	if (err) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Failed to initialize PortAudio: %s\n", Pa_GetErrorText(err));
 		return;
 	}
+	initialized = true;
 }
 
 
@@ -80,6 +85,7 @@ AudioInterface::AudioInterface() {
 	params.resize(NUM_PARAMS);
 	inputs.resize(NUM_INPUTS);
 	outputs.resize(NUM_OUTPUTS);
+	audioInit();
 }
 
 AudioInterface::~AudioInterface() {
diff --git a/src/core/MidiInterface.cpp b/src/core/MidiInterface.cpp
index 487c10ce..78a2735d 100644
--- a/src/core/MidiInterface.cpp
+++ b/src/core/MidiInterface.cpp
@@ -7,13 +7,18 @@
 
 using namespace rack;
 
+static bool initialized = false;
 
 void midiInit() {
+	if (initialized)
+		return;
+
 	PmError err = Pm_Initialize();
 	if (err) {
 		printf("Failed to initialize PortMidi: %s\n", Pm_GetErrorText(err));
 		return;
 	}
+	initialized = true;
 }
 
 
@@ -56,6 +61,7 @@ MidiInterface::MidiInterface() {
 	params.resize(NUM_PARAMS);
 	inputs.resize(NUM_INPUTS);
 	outputs.resize(NUM_OUTPUTS);
+	midiInit();
 }
 
 MidiInterface::~MidiInterface() {
diff --git a/src/core/core.cpp b/src/core/core.cpp
index bc41fd68..7ffabf10 100644
--- a/src/core/core.cpp
+++ b/src/core/core.cpp
@@ -12,8 +12,5 @@ struct CorePlugin : Plugin {
 
 
 Plugin *init() {
-	audioInit();
-	midiInit();
-
 	return new CorePlugin();
 }
diff --git a/src/core/core.hpp b/src/core/core.hpp
index bf43aeef..a38a592e 100644
--- a/src/core/core.hpp
+++ b/src/core/core.hpp
@@ -3,9 +3,6 @@
 
 using namespace rack;
 
-void audioInit();
-void midiInit();
-
 ////////////////////
 // module widgets
 ////////////////////