--- a/src/MacSrc/Shock.c
+++ b/src/MacSrc/Shock.c
@@ -162,9 +162,26 @@
 void InitSDL() {
     SDL_SetHint(SDL_HINT_NO_SIGNAL_HANDLERS, "1");
     SDL_SetHint(SDL_HINT_RENDER_DRIVER, "opengl");
+#ifdef __ANDROID__
+    // SDL2 2.28.5's AAudio backend (Android's default since API 26) only
+    // ever allows one open non-capture (playback) device at a time - it
+    // keeps a single static handle and asserts on a second open
+    // ('SDL_assert((audioDevice == NULL) || iscapture)' in
+    // src/audio/aaudio/SDL_aaudio.c). SDLSound.c opens two: one directly via
+    // SDL_OpenAudioDevice() for cutscene audio, one via Mix_OpenAudio() for
+    // SFX/MIDI. The older OpenSL ES backend has no such limitation, so force
+    // it instead of AAudio. Uses SDL_HINT_OVERRIDE priority so nothing set
+    // earlier (or by SDL/the platform) can take precedence over it.
+    SDL_SetHintWithPriority(SDL_HINT_AUDIODRIVER, "openslES", SDL_HINT_OVERRIDE);
+#endif
     if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO | SDL_INIT_TIMER | SDL_INIT_AUDIO) < 0) {
         DEBUG("%s: Init failed", __FUNCTION__);
     }
+#ifdef __ANDROID__
+    // Standing diagnostic: reports which audio driver SDL actually selected,
+    // to confirm the openslES override above took effect on-device.
+    INFO("SDL audio driver: %s", SDL_GetCurrentAudioDriver());
+#endif
 
     // TODO: figure out some universal set of settings that work...
 #ifdef __ANDROID__