diff --git a/python/jackctl.py b/python/jackctl.py
index c13b9b0..c56c9b0 100644
--- a/python/jackctl.py
+++ b/python/jackctl.py
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ class JSIter:
 
 	return cast( retval, self.typ )
 
+DeviceAcquireFunc = CFUNCTYPE( c_int, c_char_p )
+DeviceReleaseFunc = CFUNCTYPE( None, c_char_p )
 
 jackctl_server_start = libjs.jackctl_server_start
 jackctl_server_start.argtypes = [ POINTER(jackctl_server_t), POINTER(jackctl_driver_t) ]
@@ -64,7 +66,7 @@ jackctl_server_stop.argtypes = [ POINTER(jackctl_server_t) ]
 jackctl_server_stop.restype  = c_bool
 
 jackctl_server_create = libjs.jackctl_server_create
-jackctl_server_create.argtypes = [ POINTER(jackctl_server_t), POINTER(jackctl_driver_t) ]
+jackctl_server_create.argtypes = [ DeviceAcquireFunc, DeviceReleaseFunc ]
 jackctl_server_create.restype  = POINTER(jackctl_server_t)
 
 jackctl_server_get_drivers_list = libjs.jackctl_server_get_drivers_list
@@ -191,9 +193,15 @@ class Driver(object):
 
     name = property( get_name )
 
+
 class Server(object):
     def __init__( self ):
-	self.srv_ptr = jackctl_server_create( None, None )
+	self.dacqd = DeviceAcquireFunc(self.acquire_card)
+	self.reled = DeviceReleaseFunc(self.release_card)
+	self.srv_ptr = jackctl_server_create( self.dacqd, self.reled )
+
+	self.acquire_card_cb = None
+	self.release_card_cb = None
 
 	driver_jslist = jackctl_server_get_drivers_list( self.srv_ptr )
 
@@ -218,3 +226,17 @@ class Server(object):
 
     def stop( self ):
 	return jackctl_server_stop( self.srv_ptr )
+
+
+    def acquire_card( self, cardname ):
+	if self.acquire_card_cb:
+	    return self.acquire_card_cb(cardname)
+	else:
+	    return True
+
+    def release_card( self, cardname ):
+	if self.release_card_cb:
+	    self.release_card_cb(cardname)
+
+
+
diff --git a/python/jackd.py b/python/jackd.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 594c3bd..02d9413
--- a/python/jackd.py
+++ b/python/jackd.py
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
 import sys
-from mygetopt import my_getopt
-import jackctl
+from pyjackd.mygetopt import my_getopt
+from pyjackd import jackctl
 import readline
+import time
 
+import reserve_audio
 
 argv = sys.argv[1:]
 
@@ -75,8 +77,18 @@ def driver_parse_args( drv, argv ):
 		else:
 		    p.value = optarg
 
+def acquire_dev(cardname):
+    reserve_audio.reserve_dev(cardname,20,None)
+    time.sleep(0.1)
+    return True
+
+def release_dev(cardname):
+    reserve_audio.rr.unreserve()
+    reserve_audio.rr = None
 
 srv = jackctl.Server()
+srv.acquire_card_cb = acquire_dev
+srv.release_card_cb = release_dev
 
 drv, argv = server_parse_ags( srv, argv )
 driver_parse_args( drv, argv )
@@ -90,7 +102,16 @@ driver_parse_args( drv, argv )
 #for p in drv.params.values():
 #    print p.name, "-> ", p.value
 
-srv.start( drv )
+started = srv.start( drv )
+
+if not started:
+    print "failed to start with driver " + drv.name
+    print "trying to start with dummy driver, switch to the right master yourself"
+
+    started = srv.start( srv.drivers["dummy"] )
+
+    if not started:
+	sys.exit(20)
 
 quit = False
 while not quit:
diff --git a/python/reserve_audio.py b/python/reserve_audio.py
index 5096600..d664d4c 100644
--- a/python/reserve_audio.py
+++ b/python/reserve_audio.py
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ class reservation_t( dbus.service.Object ):
 	return False
 
 
+    def unreserve (self):
+	self.connection.release_name( 'org.freedesktop.ReserveDevice1.' + self.dev_name )
+	rr.remove_from_connection()
+
 
 def reserve_dev( dev_name, prio, override_cb ):
     global rr
@@ -43,6 +47,7 @@ def reserve_dev( dev_name, prio, override_cb ):
 	r_proxy = session_bus.get_object( "org.freedesktop.ReserveDevice1." + dev_name, "/org/freedesktop/ReserveDevice1/" + dev_name )
 	r_iface = dbus.Interface( r_proxy, "org.freedesktop.ReserveDevice1" )
     except Exception:
+	print "no other reservation exists. taking the name"
 	rr = reservation_t( dev_name, prio, override_cb )
 	return