diff --git a/audio/audio.c b/audio/audio.c
index bd4bcabcca..73b65dc3b9 100644
--- a/audio/audio.c
+++ b/audio/audio.c
@@ -1801,20 +1801,28 @@ out:
     return NULL;
 }
 
+AudioState *audio_get_default_audio_state(Error **errp)
+{
+    if (!default_audio_state) {
+        default_audio_state = audio_init(NULL, errp);
+        if (!default_audio_state) {
+            if (!QSIMPLEQ_EMPTY(&audiodevs)) {
+                error_append_hint(errp, "Perhaps you wanted to use -audio or set audiodev=%s?\n",
+                                  QSIMPLEQ_FIRST(&audiodevs)->dev->id);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    return default_audio_state;
+}
+
 bool AUD_register_card (const char *name, QEMUSoundCard *card, Error **errp)
 {
     if (!card->state) {
-        if (!default_audio_state) {
-            default_audio_state = audio_init(NULL, errp);
-            if (!default_audio_state) {
-                if (!QSIMPLEQ_EMPTY(&audiodevs)) {
-                    error_append_hint(errp, "Perhaps you wanted to use -audio or set audiodev=%s?\n",
-                                      QSIMPLEQ_FIRST(&audiodevs)->dev->id);
-                }
-                return false;
-            }
+        card->state = audio_get_default_audio_state(errp);
+        if (!card->state) {
+            return false;
         }
-        card->state = default_audio_state;
     }
 
     card->name = g_strdup (name);
diff --git a/audio/audio.h b/audio/audio.h
index 6da5e8f6f0..fcc22307be 100644
--- a/audio/audio.h
+++ b/audio/audio.h
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ void audio_init_audiodevs(void);
 void audio_help(void);
 
 AudioState *audio_state_by_name(const char *name, Error **errp);
+AudioState *audio_get_default_audio_state(Error **errp);
 const char *audio_get_id(QEMUSoundCard *card);
 
 #define DEFINE_AUDIO_PROPERTIES(_s, _f)         \
diff --git a/docs/about/removed-features.rst b/docs/about/removed-features.rst
index ed94b4cd0c..f04036987b 100644
--- a/docs/about/removed-features.rst
+++ b/docs/about/removed-features.rst
@@ -460,12 +460,6 @@ in this case.
 Note that the default audio backend must be configured on the command
 line if the ``-nodefaults`` options is used.
 
-Creating vnc without ``audiodev=`` property (removed in 8.2)
-''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
-
-When using vnc, you should specify an ``audiodev=`` property if
-you plan to transmit audio through the VNC protocol.
-
 QEMU Machine Protocol (QMP) commands
 ------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/ui/vnc.c b/ui/vnc.c
index 6056028e49..4f23a0fa79 100644
--- a/ui/vnc.c
+++ b/ui/vnc.c
@@ -4185,6 +4185,8 @@ void vnc_display_open(const char *id, Error **errp)
         if (!vd->audio_state) {
             goto fail;
         }
+    } else {
+        vd->audio_state = audio_get_default_audio_state(NULL);
     }
 
     device_id = qemu_opt_get(opts, "display");