diff --git a/code/nel/src/sound/driver/openal/source_al.cpp b/code/nel/src/sound/driver/openal/source_al.cpp
index f156bfb7c..050081df1 100644
--- a/code/nel/src/sound/driver/openal/source_al.cpp
+++ b/code/nel/src/sound/driver/openal/source_al.cpp
@@ -890,15 +890,22 @@ void CSourceAL::setStreamingBuffersMax(uint buffers)
 	unqueueBuffers();
 	removeBuffers();
 
-	for(uint i = 0; i < _BuffersMax; ++i)
-	{
-		// create a new buffer
-		CBufferAL *buffer = static_cast<CBufferAL*>(_SoundDriver->createBuffer());
-		// use StorageSoftware because buffers will be reused
-		// deleting and recreating them is a waste of time
-		buffer->setStorageMode(IBuffer::StorageSoftware);
-		_Buffers[buffer->bufferName()] = buffer;
-	}
+	  for(uint i = 0; i < _BuffersMax; ++i)
+	    {
+	try {
+	      // create a new buffer
+	      CBufferAL *buffer = static_cast<CBufferAL*>(_SoundDriver->createBuffer());
+	      // use StorageSoftware because buffers will be reused
+	      // deleting and recreating them is a waste of time
+	      buffer->setStorageMode(IBuffer::StorageSoftware);
+	      _Buffers[buffer->bufferName()] = buffer;
+	} catch(ESoundDriverGenBuf &e) {
+	  nlwarning("Cannot create %d buffers. openal fails after %d buffers", buffers, i);
+	    _BuffersMax = i;
+	    _BuffersName.resize(i);
+	    break;
+	  }
+	    }
 }
 
 /// Set the default size for streaming buffers