diff --git a/gui/src/store/audioStore.js b/gui/src/store/audioStore.js
index 29ae3f02..78b6f556 100644
--- a/gui/src/store/audioStore.js
+++ b/gui/src/store/audioStore.js
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ export const useAudioStore = defineStore("audioStore", () => {
 
   function getInputDevices() {
     var html = "";
+        if (inputDevices.value.length > 0){
+
     for (var key in inputDevices.value) {
       let selected = "";
 
@@ -35,20 +37,25 @@ export const useAudioStore = defineStore("audioStore", () => {
       html += `<option value=${inputDevices.value[key]["id"]} ${selected}>${inputDevices.value[key]["name"]} | ${inputDevices.value[key]["api"]}</option>`;
     }
     return html;
+    }
   }
 
   function getOutputDevices() {
     var html = "";
-    for (var key in outputDevices.value) {
-      let selected = "";
-      if (outputDevices.value[key]["id"] == settings.tx_audio) {
-        selected = "selected";
-      } else {
-        selected = "";
-      }
-      html += `<option value=${outputDevices.value[key]["id"]} ${selected}>${outputDevices.value[key]["name"]} | ${inputDevices.value[key]["api"]}</option>`;
+
+    if (outputDevices.value.length > 0){
+        for (var key in outputDevices.value) {
+
+          let selected = "";
+          if (outputDevices.value[key]["id"] == settings.tx_audio) {
+            selected = "selected";
+          } else {
+            selected = "";
+          }
+          html += `<option value=${outputDevices.value[key]["id"]} ${selected}>${outputDevices.value[key]["name"]} | ${outputDevices.value[key]["api"]}</option>`;
+        }
+        return html;
     }
-    return html;
   }
 
   return {
diff --git a/modem/audio.py b/modem/audio.py
index ec06b26e..d7fdbbb1 100644
--- a/modem/audio.py
+++ b/modem/audio.py
@@ -110,18 +110,59 @@ def fetch_audio_devices(input_devices, output_devices):
 # index of the device within the list
 # returns (id, name)
 def get_device_index_from_crc(crc, isInput: bool):
-    in_devices = []
-    out_devices = []
+    try:
+        in_devices = []
+        out_devices = []
 
-    fetch_audio_devices(in_devices, out_devices)
+        fetch_audio_devices(in_devices, out_devices)
 
-    if isInput:
-        detected_devices = in_devices
-    else:
-        detected_devices = out_devices
+        if isInput:
+            detected_devices = in_devices
+        else:
+            detected_devices = out_devices
 
-    for i, dev in enumerate(detected_devices):
-        if dev['id'] == crc:
-            return (i, dev['name'])
+        for i, dev in enumerate(detected_devices):
+            if dev['id'] == crc:
+                return (i, dev['name'])
 
-    raise Exception(f"Input: {isInput} | Audio device {crc} not detected | Devices: {detected_devices}")
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.warning(f"Audio device {crc} not detected ", devices=detected_devices, isInput=isInput)
+
+
+import sounddevice as sd
+
+
+def test_audio_devices(input_id: str, output_id: str) -> list:
+    result = [False, False]
+
+    try:
+        device_index = get_device_index_from_crc(input_id, True)
+        if device_index is None:
+            raise ValueError("Invalid input device index.")
+
+        sd.check_input_settings(
+            device=device_index[0],
+            channels=1,
+            dtype="int16",
+            samplerate=48000,
+        )
+        result[0] = True
+    except (sd.PortAudioError, ValueError) as e:
+        print("Input device error:", e)
+
+    try:
+        device_index = get_device_index_from_crc(output_id, False)
+        if device_index is None:
+            raise ValueError("Invalid output device index.")
+
+        sd.check_output_settings(
+            device=device_index[0],
+            channels=1,
+            dtype="int16",
+            samplerate=48000,
+        )
+        result[1] = True
+    except (sd.PortAudioError, ValueError) as e:
+        print("Output device error:", e)
+
+    return result
diff --git a/modem/modem.py b/modem/modem.py
index 71ba82bd..06359f2d 100644
--- a/modem/modem.py
+++ b/modem/modem.py
@@ -161,18 +161,20 @@ class RF:
 
                 try:
                     self.log.debug("[MDM] init: starting pyaudio callback")
-                    # self.audio_stream.start_stream(
                     self.stream.start()
                 except Exception as audioerr:
                     self.log.error("[MDM] init: starting pyaudio callback failed", e=audioerr)
 
             except Exception as err:
                 self.log.error("[MDM] init: can't open audio device. Exit", e=err)
+                self.stream.stop
+                self.stream = lambda: None
+                self.stream.active = False
+
                 # let's stop the modem service
                 self.service_queue.put("stop")
                 # simulate audio class active state for reducing cli output
-                self.stream = lambda: None
-                self.stream.active = False
+
 
         elif not TESTMODE:
             # placeholder area for processing audio via TCI
diff --git a/modem/service_manager.py b/modem/service_manager.py
index 52273878..661125fd 100644
--- a/modem/service_manager.py
+++ b/modem/service_manager.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import threading
 import data_handler
 import modem
 import structlog
+import audio
 
 class SM:
     def __init__(self, app):
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ class SM:
         self.modem_fft = app.modem_fft
         self.modem_service = app.modem_service
 
+
         runner_thread = threading.Thread(
             target=self.runner, name="runner thread", daemon=True
         )
@@ -24,13 +26,20 @@ class SM:
         while True:
             cmd = self.modem_service.get()
             if cmd in ['start'] and not self.modem:
-                self.log.info("starting modem....")
-                self.modem = modem.RF(self.config, self.modem_events, self.modem_fft, self.modem_service)
-                self.data_handler = data_handler.DATA(self.config, self.modem_events)
+                audio_test = audio.test_audio_devices(self.config['AUDIO']['rx'], self.config['AUDIO']['tx'])
+                print(self.config['AUDIO']['rx'])
+                print(audio_test)
+                if False not in audio_test:
+                    self.log.info("starting modem....")
+                    self.modem = modem.RF(self.config, self.modem_events, self.modem_fft, self.modem_service)
+                    self.data_handler = data_handler.DATA(self.config, self.modem_events)
+                else:
+                    self.log.warning("starting modem failed", input_test=audio_test[0], output_test=audio_test[1])
+
             else:
-                print("--------------------------------------")
-                self.log.info("stopping modem....")
-                del self.modem
-                del self.data_handler
-                self.modem = False
-                self.data_handler = False
+                    print("--------------------------------------")
+                    self.log.info("stopping modem....")
+                    del self.modem
+                    del self.data_handler
+                    self.modem = False
+                    self.data_handler = False