diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.cpp
index 1f1834761..12ea84a42 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.cpp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include <memory>
 
 #include <stdexcept>
-#include <sstream>
+#include <iostream>
 #include <algorithm>
 
 #include <components/vfs/manager.hpp>
@@ -11,11 +11,6 @@
 namespace MWSound
 {
 
-void FFmpeg_Decoder::fail(const std::string &msg)
-{
-    throw std::runtime_error("FFmpeg exception: "+msg);
-}
-
 int FFmpeg_Decoder::readPacket(void *user_data, uint8_t *buf, int buf_size)
 {
     try
@@ -33,7 +28,8 @@ int FFmpeg_Decoder::readPacket(void *user_data, uint8_t *buf, int buf_size)
 
 int FFmpeg_Decoder::writePacket(void *, uint8_t *, int)
 {
-    throw std::runtime_error("can't write to read-only stream");
+    std::cerr<< "can't write to read-only stream" <<std::endl;
+    return -1;
 }
 
 int64_t FFmpeg_Decoder::seek(void *user_data, int64_t offset, int whence)
@@ -180,40 +176,40 @@ size_t FFmpeg_Decoder::readAVAudioData(void *data, size_t length)
     return dec;
 }
 
-void FFmpeg_Decoder::open(const std::string &fname)
+bool FFmpeg_Decoder::open(const std::string &fname)
 {
     close();
-    mDataStream = mResourceMgr->get(fname);
+    try
+    {
+        mDataStream = mResourceMgr->get(fname);
 
-    if((mFormatCtx=avformat_alloc_context()) == NULL)
-        fail("Failed to allocate context");
+        if((mFormatCtx=avformat_alloc_context()) == NULL)
+            throw std::runtime_error("Failed to allocate context");
 
-    mFormatCtx->pb = avio_alloc_context(NULL, 0, 0, this, readPacket, writePacket, seek);
-    if(!mFormatCtx->pb || avformat_open_input(&mFormatCtx, fname.c_str(), NULL, NULL) != 0)
-    {
-        // "Note that a user-supplied AVFormatContext will be freed on failure".
-        if (mFormatCtx)
+        mFormatCtx->pb = avio_alloc_context(NULL, 0, 0, this, readPacket, writePacket, seek);
+        if(!mFormatCtx->pb || avformat_open_input(&mFormatCtx, fname.c_str(), NULL, NULL) != 0)
         {
-            if (mFormatCtx->pb != NULL)
+            // "Note that a user-supplied AVFormatContext will be freed on failure".
+            if (mFormatCtx)
             {
-                if (mFormatCtx->pb->buffer != NULL)
+                if (mFormatCtx->pb != NULL)
                 {
-                    av_free(mFormatCtx->pb->buffer);
-                    mFormatCtx->pb->buffer = NULL;
+                    if (mFormatCtx->pb->buffer != NULL)
+                    {
+                        av_free(mFormatCtx->pb->buffer);
+                        mFormatCtx->pb->buffer = NULL;
+                    }
+                    av_free(mFormatCtx->pb);
+                    mFormatCtx->pb = NULL;
                 }
-                av_free(mFormatCtx->pb);
-                mFormatCtx->pb = NULL;
+                avformat_free_context(mFormatCtx);
             }
-            avformat_free_context(mFormatCtx);
+            mFormatCtx = NULL;
+            throw std::runtime_error("Failed to allocate input stream");
         }
-        mFormatCtx = NULL;
-        fail("Failed to allocate input stream");
-    }
 
-    try
-    {
         if(avformat_find_stream_info(mFormatCtx, NULL) < 0)
-            fail("Failed to find stream info in "+fname);
+            throw std::runtime_error("Failed to find stream info in "+fname);
 
         for(size_t j = 0;j < mFormatCtx->nb_streams;j++)
         {
@@ -224,23 +220,45 @@ void FFmpeg_Decoder::open(const std::string &fname)
             }
         }
         if(!mStream)
-            fail("No audio streams in "+fname);
+            throw std::runtime_error("No audio streams in "+fname);
 
         (*mStream)->codec->request_sample_fmt = (*mStream)->codec->sample_fmt;
 
         AVCodec *codec = avcodec_find_decoder((*mStream)->codec->codec_id);
         if(!codec)
         {
-            std::stringstream ss("No codec found for id ");
-            ss << (*mStream)->codec->codec_id;
-            fail(ss.str());
+            std::string ss = "No codec found for id " +
+                             std::to_string((*mStream)->codec->codec_id);
+            throw std::runtime_error(ss);
         }
         if(avcodec_open2((*mStream)->codec, codec, NULL) < 0)
-            fail("Failed to open audio codec " + std::string(codec->long_name));
+            throw std::runtime_error(std::string("Failed to open audio codec ") +
+                                     codec->long_name);
 
         mFrame = av_frame_alloc();
+
+        if((*mStream)->codec->sample_fmt == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_FLT ||
+           (*mStream)->codec->sample_fmt == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_FLTP)
+            mOutputSampleFormat = AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16; // FIXME: Check for AL_EXT_FLOAT32 support
+        else if((*mStream)->codec->sample_fmt == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_U8P)
+            mOutputSampleFormat = AV_SAMPLE_FMT_U8;
+        else if((*mStream)->codec->sample_fmt == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16P)
+            mOutputSampleFormat = AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16;
+        else
+            mOutputSampleFormat = AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16;
+
+        mOutputChannelLayout = (*mStream)->codec->channel_layout;
+        if(mOutputChannelLayout == 0)
+            mOutputChannelLayout = av_get_default_channel_layout((*mStream)->codec->channels);
+
+        return true;
     }
-    catch(std::exception&)
+    catch(std::exception &e)
+    {
+        std::cerr<< "Could not open audio file: "<<e.what() <<std::endl;
+    }
+
+    if(mFormatCtx)
     {
         if(mStream)
             avcodec_close((*mStream)->codec);
@@ -248,15 +266,15 @@ void FFmpeg_Decoder::open(const std::string &fname)
 
         if (mFormatCtx->pb->buffer != NULL)
         {
-          av_free(mFormatCtx->pb->buffer);
-          mFormatCtx->pb->buffer = NULL;
+            av_free(mFormatCtx->pb->buffer);
+            mFormatCtx->pb->buffer = NULL;
         }
         av_free(mFormatCtx->pb);
         mFormatCtx->pb = NULL;
 
         avformat_close_input(&mFormatCtx);
-        throw;
     }
+    return false;
 }
 
 void FFmpeg_Decoder::close()
@@ -274,18 +292,18 @@ void FFmpeg_Decoder::close()
     {
         if (mFormatCtx->pb != NULL)
         {
-          // mFormatCtx->pb->buffer must be freed by hand,
-          // if not, valgrind will show memleak, see:
-          //
-          // https://trac.ffmpeg.org/ticket/1357
-          //
-          if (mFormatCtx->pb->buffer != NULL)
-          {
-            av_free(mFormatCtx->pb->buffer);
-            mFormatCtx->pb->buffer = NULL;
-          }
-          av_free(mFormatCtx->pb);
-          mFormatCtx->pb = NULL;
+            // mFormatCtx->pb->buffer must be freed by hand,
+            // if not, valgrind will show memleak, see:
+            //
+            // https://trac.ffmpeg.org/ticket/1357
+            //
+            if (mFormatCtx->pb->buffer != NULL)
+            {
+                av_free(mFormatCtx->pb->buffer);
+                mFormatCtx->pb->buffer = NULL;
+            }
+            av_free(mFormatCtx->pb);
+            mFormatCtx->pb = NULL;
         }
         avformat_close_input(&mFormatCtx);
     }
@@ -298,19 +316,13 @@ std::string FFmpeg_Decoder::getName()
     return mFormatCtx->filename;
 }
 
-void FFmpeg_Decoder::getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *type)
+bool FFmpeg_Decoder::getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *type)
 {
     if(!mStream)
-        fail("No audio stream info");
-
-    if((*mStream)->codec->sample_fmt == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_FLT || (*mStream)->codec->sample_fmt == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_FLTP)
-        mOutputSampleFormat = AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16; // FIXME: Check for AL_EXT_FLOAT32 support
-    else if((*mStream)->codec->sample_fmt == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_U8P)
-        mOutputSampleFormat = AV_SAMPLE_FMT_U8;
-    else if((*mStream)->codec->sample_fmt == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16P)
-        mOutputSampleFormat = AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16;
-    else
-        mOutputSampleFormat = AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16;
+    {
+        std::cerr<< "No audio stream info" <<std::endl;
+        return false;
+    }
 
     if(mOutputSampleFormat == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_U8)
         *type = SampleType_UInt8;
@@ -319,19 +331,6 @@ void FFmpeg_Decoder::getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *
     else if(mOutputSampleFormat == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_FLT)
         *type = SampleType_Float32;
 
-    int64_t ch_layout = (*mStream)->codec->channel_layout;
-
-    if(ch_layout == 0)
-        ch_layout = av_get_default_channel_layout((*mStream)->codec->channels);
-
-    mOutputChannelLayout = ch_layout;
-    if (ch_layout == AV_CH_LAYOUT_5POINT1 || ch_layout == AV_CH_LAYOUT_7POINT1
-            || ch_layout == AV_CH_LAYOUT_QUAD) // FIXME: check for AL_EXT_MCFORMATS support
-        mOutputChannelLayout = AV_CH_LAYOUT_STEREO;
-    else if (ch_layout != AV_CH_LAYOUT_MONO
-             && ch_layout != AV_CH_LAYOUT_STEREO)
-        mOutputChannelLayout = AV_CH_LAYOUT_STEREO;
-
     if(mOutputChannelLayout == AV_CH_LAYOUT_MONO)
         *chans = ChannelConfig_Mono;
     else if(mOutputChannelLayout == AV_CH_LAYOUT_STEREO)
@@ -347,13 +346,27 @@ void FFmpeg_Decoder::getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *
         char str[1024];
         av_get_channel_layout_string(str, sizeof(str), (*mStream)->codec->channels,
                                      (*mStream)->codec->channel_layout);
-        fail(std::string("Unsupported channel layout: ")+str);
+        std::cerr<< "Unsupported channel layout: "<<str <<std::endl;
+
+        if((*mStream)->codec->channels == 1)
+        {
+            mOutputChannelLayout = AV_CH_LAYOUT_MONO;
+            *chans = ChannelConfig_Mono;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            mOutputChannelLayout = AV_CH_LAYOUT_STEREO;
+            *chans = ChannelConfig_Stereo;
+        }
     }
 
     *samplerate = (*mStream)->codec->sample_rate;
+    int64_t ch_layout = (*mStream)->codec->channel_layout;
+    if(ch_layout == 0)
+        ch_layout = av_get_default_channel_layout((*mStream)->codec->channels);
 
-    if(mOutputSampleFormat != (*mStream)->codec->sample_fmt
-            || mOutputChannelLayout != ch_layout)
+    if(mOutputSampleFormat != (*mStream)->codec->sample_fmt ||
+       mOutputChannelLayout != ch_layout)
     {
         mSwr = swr_alloc_set_opts(mSwr,                   // SwrContext
                           mOutputChannelLayout,           // output ch layout
@@ -365,24 +378,37 @@ void FFmpeg_Decoder::getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *
                           0,                              // logging level offset
                           NULL);                          // log context
         if(!mSwr)
-            fail(std::string("Couldn't allocate SwrContext"));
+        {
+            std::cerr<< "Couldn't allocate SwrContext" <<std::endl;
+            return false;
+        }
         if(swr_init(mSwr) < 0)
-            fail(std::string("Couldn't initialize SwrContext"));
-
+        {
+            std::cerr<< "Couldn't initialize SwrContext" <<std::endl;
+            return false;
+        }
     }
+
+    return true;
 }
 
 size_t FFmpeg_Decoder::read(char *buffer, size_t bytes)
 {
     if(!mStream)
-        fail("No audio stream");
+    {
+        std::cerr<< "No audio stream" <<std::endl;
+        return 0;
+    }
     return readAVAudioData(buffer, bytes);
 }
 
 void FFmpeg_Decoder::readAll(std::vector<char> &output)
 {
     if(!mStream)
-        fail("No audio stream");
+    {
+        std::cerr<< "No audio stream" <<std::endl;
+        return;
+    }
 
     while(getAVAudioData())
     {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.hpp
index cc553b161..13eb41ae3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.hpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ extern "C"
 
 namespace MWSound
 {
-    class FFmpeg_Decoder : public Sound_Decoder
+    class FFmpeg_Decoder final : public Sound_Decoder
     {
         AVFormatContext *mFormatCtx;
         AVStream **mStream;
@@ -66,17 +66,15 @@ namespace MWSound
         bool getAVAudioData();
         size_t readAVAudioData(void *data, size_t length);
 
-        virtual void open(const std::string &fname);
-        virtual void close();
+        bool open(const std::string &fname) override;
+        void close() override;
 
-        virtual std::string getName();
-        virtual void getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *type);
+        std::string getName() override;
+        bool getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *type) override;
 
-        virtual size_t read(char *buffer, size_t bytes);
-        virtual void readAll(std::vector<char> &output);
-        virtual size_t getSampleOffset();
-
-        void fail(const std::string &msg);
+        size_t read(char *buffer, size_t bytes) override;
+        void readAll(std::vector<char> &output) override;
+        size_t getSampleOffset() override;
 
         FFmpeg_Decoder& operator=(const FFmpeg_Decoder &rhs);
         FFmpeg_Decoder(const FFmpeg_Decoder &rhs);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/movieaudiofactory.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/movieaudiofactory.cpp
index f54ab5c06..188514f85 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/movieaudiofactory.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/movieaudiofactory.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #include "movieaudiofactory.hpp"
 
+#include <iostream>
+
 #include <extern/osg-ffmpeg-videoplayer/audiodecoder.hpp>
 #include <extern/osg-ffmpeg-videoplayer/videostate.hpp>
 
@@ -13,7 +15,7 @@ namespace MWSound
 {
 
     class MovieAudioDecoder;
-    class MWSoundDecoderBridge : public Sound_Decoder
+    class MWSoundDecoderBridge final : public Sound_Decoder
     {
     public:
         MWSoundDecoderBridge(MWSound::MovieAudioDecoder* decoder)
@@ -25,12 +27,12 @@ namespace MWSound
     private:
         MWSound::MovieAudioDecoder* mDecoder;
 
-        virtual void open(const std::string &fname);
-        virtual void close();
-        virtual std::string getName();
-        virtual void getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *type);
-        virtual size_t read(char *buffer, size_t bytes);
-        virtual size_t getSampleOffset();
+        bool open(const std::string &fname) override;
+        void close() override;
+        std::string getName() override;
+        bool getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *type) override;
+        size_t read(char *buffer, size_t bytes) override;
+        size_t getSampleOffset() override;
     };
 
     class MovieAudioDecoder : public Video::MovieAudioDecoder
@@ -96,9 +98,9 @@ namespace MWSound
     };
 
 
-    void MWSoundDecoderBridge::open(const std::string &fname)
+    bool MWSoundDecoderBridge::open(const std::string &fname)
     {
-        throw std::runtime_error("unimplemented");
+        return false;
     }
     void MWSoundDecoderBridge::close() {}
 
@@ -107,7 +109,7 @@ namespace MWSound
         return mDecoder->getStreamName();
     }
 
-    void MWSoundDecoderBridge::getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *type)
+    bool MWSoundDecoderBridge::getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *type)
     {
         *samplerate = mDecoder->getOutputSampleRate();
 
@@ -124,9 +126,8 @@ namespace MWSound
             *chans = ChannelConfig_Quad;
         else
         {
-            std::stringstream error;
-            error << "Unsupported channel layout: " << outputChannelLayout;
-            throw std::runtime_error(error.str());
+            std::cerr<< "Unsupported channel layout: "<<outputChannelLayout <<std::endl;
+            return false;
         }
 
         AVSampleFormat outputSampleFormat = mDecoder->getOutputSampleFormat();
@@ -140,8 +141,11 @@ namespace MWSound
         {
             char str[1024];
             av_get_sample_fmt_string(str, sizeof(str), outputSampleFormat);
-            throw std::runtime_error(std::string("Unsupported sample format: ") + str);
+            std::cerr<< "Unsupported sample format: "<<str <<std::endl;
+            return false;
         }
+
+        return true;
     }
 
     size_t MWSoundDecoderBridge::read(char *buffer, size_t bytes)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp
index 3fb1c1c13..009c019e7 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp
@@ -411,7 +411,8 @@ bool OpenAL_SoundStream::init(bool getLoudnessData)
     ChannelConfig chans;
     SampleType type;
 
-    mDecoder->getInfo(&mSampleRate, &chans, &type);
+    if(!mDecoder->getInfo(&mSampleRate, &chans, &type))
+        return false;
     mFormat = getALFormat(chans, type);
     if(!mFormat) return false;
 
@@ -948,14 +949,18 @@ std::pair<Sound_Handle,size_t> OpenAL_Output::loadSound(const std::string &fname
     DecoderPtr decoder = mManager.getDecoder();
     // Workaround: Bethesda at some point converted some of the files to mp3, but the references were kept as .wav.
     if(decoder->mResourceMgr->exists(fname))
-        decoder->open(fname);
+    {
+        if(!decoder->open(fname))
+            return std::make_pair(nullptr, 0);
+    }
     else
     {
         std::string file = fname;
         std::string::size_type pos = file.rfind('.');
         if(pos != std::string::npos)
             file = file.substr(0, pos)+".mp3";
-        decoder->open(file);
+        if(!decoder->open(file))
+            return std::make_pair(nullptr, 0);
     }
 
     std::vector<char> data;
@@ -964,7 +969,8 @@ std::pair<Sound_Handle,size_t> OpenAL_Output::loadSound(const std::string &fname
     ALenum format;
     int srate;
 
-    decoder->getInfo(&srate, &chans, &type);
+    if(!decoder->getInfo(&srate, &chans, &type))
+        return std::make_pair(nullptr, 0);
     format = getALFormat(chans, type);
     if(!format) return std::make_pair(nullptr, 0);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_decoder.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_decoder.hpp
index 34bae87d7..57edb1393 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_decoder.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_decoder.hpp
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ namespace MWSound
     {
         const VFS::Manager* mResourceMgr;
 
-        virtual void open(const std::string &fname) = 0;
+        virtual bool open(const std::string &fname) = 0;
         virtual void close() = 0;
 
         virtual std::string getName() = 0;
-        virtual void getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *type) = 0;
+        virtual bool getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *type) = 0;
 
         virtual size_t read(char *buffer, size_t bytes) = 0;
         virtual void readAll(std::vector<char> &output);