diff --git a/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/auich.c b/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/auich.c
index 7d5ce4298a..cf5d27f569 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/auich.c
+++ b/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/auich.c
@@ -721,30 +721,13 @@ init_driver(void)
 	void *settings_handle;
 	pci_info info;
 	num_cards = 0;
-
+		
 	PRINT(("init_driver()\n"));
 
 	// get driver settings
-	settings_handle = load_driver_settings("auich.settings");
+	settings_handle = load_driver_settings(AUICH_SETTINGS);
 	if (settings_handle != NULL) {
-		const char *item;
-		char       *end;
-		uint32      value;
-
-		item = get_driver_parameter (settings_handle, "sample_rate", "48000", "48000");
-		value = strtoul (item, &end, 0);
-		if (*end == '\0') current_settings.sample_rate = value;
-
-		item = get_driver_parameter (settings_handle, "buffer_frames", "256", "256");
-		value = strtoul (item, &end, 0);
-		if (*end == '\0') current_settings.buffer_frames = value;
-
-		item = get_driver_parameter (settings_handle, "buffer_count", "4", "4");
-		value = strtoul (item, &end, 0);
-		if (*end == '\0') current_settings.buffer_count = value;
-
 		current_settings.use_thread = get_driver_boolean_parameter (settings_handle, "use_thread", false, false);
-		
 		unload_driver_settings (settings_handle);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/auich.h b/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/auich.h
index 9fdc15a55e..5ef89b069e 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/auich.h
+++ b/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/auich.h
@@ -167,6 +167,8 @@ typedef struct _auich_dev {
 } auich_dev;
 
 
+#define AUICH_SETTINGS "auich.settings"
+
 typedef struct {
 	uint32	sample_rate;
 	uint32	buffer_frames;
diff --git a/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/multi.c b/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/multi.c
index 9f950d04fe..3a7047bd00 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/multi.c
+++ b/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/multi.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
  *
  */
 
+#include <driver_settings.h>
 #include <OS.h>
 #include <MediaDefs.h>
 #include <strings.h>
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@
 #include "util.h"
 #include "io.h"
 
+
 static void	
 auich_ac97_get_mix(void *card, const void *cookie, int32 type, float *values) {
 	auich_dev *dev = (auich_dev*)card;
@@ -1011,6 +1013,7 @@ static status_t
 auich_open(const char *name, uint32 flags, void** cookie)
 {
 	auich_dev *card = NULL;
+	void *settings_handle;
 	int ix;
 	
 	LOG(("open()\n"));
@@ -1039,6 +1042,31 @@ auich_open(const char *name, uint32 flags, void** cookie)
 	*cookie = card;
 	card->multi.card = card;
 		
+	// get driver settings
+	settings_handle = load_driver_settings(AUICH_SETTINGS);
+	if (settings_handle != NULL) {
+		const char *item;
+		char       *end;
+		uint32      value;
+
+		item = get_driver_parameter (settings_handle, "sample_rate", "48000", "48000");
+		value = strtoul (item, &end, 0);
+		if (*end == '\0') 
+			current_settings.sample_rate = value;
+
+		item = get_driver_parameter (settings_handle, "buffer_frames", "256", "256");
+		value = strtoul (item, &end, 0);
+		if (*end == '\0') 
+			current_settings.buffer_frames = value;
+
+		item = get_driver_parameter (settings_handle, "buffer_count", "4", "4");
+		value = strtoul (item, &end, 0);
+		if (*end == '\0') 
+			current_settings.buffer_count = value;
+
+		unload_driver_settings(settings_handle);
+	}
+		
 	LOG(("stream_new\n"));
 		
 	card->rstream = auich_stream_new(card, AUICH_USE_RECORD, current_settings.buffer_frames, current_settings.buffer_count);