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 8754faf431..02e18cb845 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/auich.c
+++ b/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/audio/ac97/auich/auich.c
@@ -637,17 +637,30 @@ auich_setup(auich_dev * card)
 	if (card->info.device_id == SIS_SI7012_AC97_DEVICE_ID)
 		card->config.type |= TYPE_SIS7012;
 
-	PRINT(("%s deviceid = %#04x chiprev = %x model = %x enhanced at %lx\n", card->name, card->info.device_id,
-		card->info.revision, card->info.u.h0.subsystem_id, card->config.nabmbar));
+	PRINT(("%s deviceid = %#04x chiprev = %x model = %x enhanced at %lx\n",
+		card->name, card->info.device_id, card->info.revision,
+		card->info.u.h0.subsystem_id, card->config.nabmbar));
 
 	if (IS_ICH4(&card->config)) {
 		// memory mapped access
-		card->config.mmbar = 0xfffffffe & (*pci->read_pci_config)(card->info.bus, card->info.device, card->info.function, 0x18, 4);
-		card->config.mbbar = 0xfffffffe & (*pci->read_pci_config)(card->info.bus, card->info.device, card->info.function, 0x1C, 4);
+		card->config.mmbar = 0xfffffffe & (*pci->read_pci_config)
+			(card->info.bus, card->info.device, card->info.function, 0x18, 4);
+		card->config.mbbar = 0xfffffffe & (*pci->read_pci_config)
+			(card->info.bus, card->info.device, card->info.function, 0x1C, 4);
+		if (card->config.mmbar == 0 || card->config.mbbar == 0) {
+			PRINT(("memory mapped IO not configured\n"));
+			return B_ERROR;
+		}
 	} else {
 		// pio access
-		card->config.nambar = 0xfffffffe & (*pci->read_pci_config)(card->info.bus, card->info.device, card->info.function, 0x10, 4);
-		card->config.nabmbar = 0xfffffffe & (*pci->read_pci_config)(card->info.bus, card->info.device, card->info.function, 0x14, 4);
+		card->config.nambar = 0xfffffffe & (*pci->read_pci_config)
+			(card->info.bus, card->info.device, card->info.function, 0x10, 4);
+		card->config.nabmbar = 0xfffffffe & (*pci->read_pci_config)
+			(card->info.bus, card->info.device, card->info.function, 0x14, 4);
+		if (card->config.nambar == 0 || card->config.nabmbar == 0) {
+			PRINT(("IO space not configured\n"));
+			return B_ERROR;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/* before doing anything else, map the IO memory */
@@ -657,14 +670,18 @@ auich_setup(auich_dev * card)
 		return B_ERROR;
 	}
 
-	cmd = (*pci->read_pci_config)(card->info.bus, card->info.device, card->info.function, PCI_command, 2);
+	cmd = (*pci->read_pci_config)(card->info.bus, card->info.device,
+		card->info.function, PCI_command, 2);
 	PRINT(("PCI command before: %x\n", cmd));
 	if (IS_ICH4(&card->config)) {
-		(*pci->write_pci_config)(card->info.bus, card->info.device, card->info.function, PCI_command, 2, cmd | PCI_command_memory);
+		(*pci->write_pci_config)(card->info.bus, card->info.device,
+			card->info.function, PCI_command, 2, cmd | PCI_command_memory);
 	} else {
-		(*pci->write_pci_config)(card->info.bus, card->info.device, card->info.function, PCI_command, 2, cmd | PCI_command_io);
+		(*pci->write_pci_config)(card->info.bus, card->info.device,
+			card->info.function, PCI_command, 2, cmd | PCI_command_io);
 	}
-	cmd = (*pci->read_pci_config)(card->info.bus, card->info.device, card->info.function, PCI_command, 2);
+	cmd = (*pci->read_pci_config)(card->info.bus, card->info.device,
+		card->info.function, PCI_command, 2);
 	PRINT(("PCI command after: %x\n", cmd));
 
 	/* do a cold reset */
@@ -707,7 +724,8 @@ auich_setup(auich_dev * card)
 		LOG(("6ch PCM output support\n"));
 	}
 
-	if (current_settings.use_thread) {
+	if (current_settings.use_thread || card->config.irq == 0
+		|| card->config.irq == 0xff) {
 		int_thread_id = spawn_kernel_thread(auich_int_thread,
 			"auich interrupt poller", B_REAL_TIME_PRIORITY, card);
 		resume_thread(int_thread_id);