diff --git a/src/blackmisc/audio/audioutils.cpp b/src/blackmisc/audio/audioutils.cpp
index 57b09941d..6fc1c825d 100644
--- a/src/blackmisc/audio/audioutils.cpp
+++ b/src/blackmisc/audio/audioutils.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 #include <QProcess>
 #include <QStringList>
+#include <QAudioDeviceInfo>
 
 using namespace BlackConfig;
 
@@ -23,5 +24,16 @@ namespace BlackMisc
             if (!CBuildConfig::isRunningOnWindowsNtPlatform()) { return false; }
             return QProcess::startDetached("SndVol.exe");
         }
+
+        void initWindowsAudioDevices()
+        {
+            if (!CBuildConfig::isRunningOnWindowsNtPlatform()) { return; }
+
+            // force init of device lists
+            // see https://discordapp.com/channels/539048679160676382/539925070550794240/676418182038421534
+            QAudioDeviceInfo::availableDevices(QAudio::AudioInput);
+            QAudioDeviceInfo::availableDevices(QAudio::AudioOutput);
+        }
+
     } // ns
 } // ns
diff --git a/src/blackmisc/audio/audioutils.h b/src/blackmisc/audio/audioutils.h
index 05358ae46..58344c177 100644
--- a/src/blackmisc/audio/audioutils.h
+++ b/src/blackmisc/audio/audioutils.h
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ namespace BlackMisc
     {
         //! Start the Windows mixer
         BLACKMISC_EXPORT bool startWindowsMixer();
+
+        //! On windows init the audio devices
+        //! \remarks workaround for WSAPI driver crashes, hoping that upfront init already sets global vars. etc.
+        BLACKMISC_EXPORT void initWindowsAudioDevices();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/swiftcore/main.cpp b/src/swiftcore/main.cpp
index 44bda373d..0e6bfc2a4 100644
--- a/src/swiftcore/main.cpp
+++ b/src/swiftcore/main.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #include "blackcore/corefacadeconfig.h"
 #include "blackgui/guiapplication.h"
+#include "blackmisc/audio/audioutils.h"
 #include "blackmisc/icons.h"
 #include "blackmisc/directoryutils.h"
 #include "blackmisc/crashhandler.h"
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@
 #include <Qt>
 
 using namespace BlackMisc;
+using namespace BlackMisc::Audio;
 using namespace BlackCore;
 using namespace BlackGui;
 
@@ -31,6 +33,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     QApplication qa(argc, argv);
     Q_UNUSED(qa) // init of qa is required, but qa not used
 
+    initWindowsAudioDevices();
     CCrashHandler::instance()->init();
     CGuiApplication a(CApplicationInfo::swiftCore(), CApplicationInfo::PilotClientCore, CIcons::swiftCore24());
     a.addWindowStateOption();
diff --git a/src/swiftguistandard/main.cpp b/src/swiftguistandard/main.cpp
index 6533bd548..86eed8d33 100644
--- a/src/swiftguistandard/main.cpp
+++ b/src/swiftguistandard/main.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #include "blackgui/enableforframelesswindow.h"
 #include "blackgui/guiapplication.h"
+#include "blackmisc/audio/audioutils.h"
 #include "blackmisc/directoryutils.h"
 #include "blackmisc/crashhandler.h"
 #include "blackmisc/appstarttime.h"
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@
 
 using namespace BlackGui;
 using namespace BlackMisc;
+using namespace BlackMisc::Audio;
 using namespace BlackCore;
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
@@ -28,6 +30,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     QApplication qa(argc, argv);
     Q_UNUSED(qa) // application init needed
 
+    initWindowsAudioDevices();
     CCrashHandler::instance()->init();
     CSwiftGuiStdApplication a; // application with contexts
     a.setSignalStartupAutomatically(false); // application will signal startup on its own