diff --git a/src/s_sound.c b/src/s_sound.c
index a721a9ff4..5dd621725 100644
--- a/src/s_sound.c
+++ b/src/s_sound.c
@@ -291,12 +291,8 @@ static void SetChannelsNum(void)
 	}
 #endif
 	if (cv_numChannels.value)
-		channels = (channel_t *)Z_Malloc(cv_numChannels.value * sizeof (channel_t), PU_STATIC, NULL);
-	numofchannels = cv_numChannels.value;
-
-	// Free all channels for use
-	for (i = 0; i < numofchannels; i++)
-		channels[i].sfxinfo = 0;
+		channels = (channel_t *)Z_Calloc(cv_numChannels.value * sizeof (channel_t), PU_STATIC, NULL);
+	numofchannels = (channels ? cv_numChannels.value : 0);
 
 	S_ResetCaptions();
 }