diff --git a/Source/i_flmusic.c b/Source/i_flmusic.c
index a601f937..9604d0ac 100644
--- a/Source/i_flmusic.c
+++ b/Source/i_flmusic.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "doomtype.h"
 #include "i_system.h"
 #include "i_sound.h"
+#include "m_misc2.h"
 #include "memio.h"
 #include "mus2mid.h"
 
@@ -77,9 +78,14 @@ static boolean I_FL_InitMusic(void)
 
     if (sf_id == FLUID_FAILED)
     {
+        char *errmsg;
         delete_fluid_synth(synth);
         delete_fluid_settings(settings);
-        I_Error("Error loading FluidSynth soundfont: %s\n", soundfont_path);
+        errmsg = M_StringJoin("Error loading FluidSynth soundfont: ",
+                              soundfont_path, NULL);
+        SDL_ShowSimpleMessageBox(SDL_MESSAGEBOX_WARNING,
+                                 PROJECT_STRING, errmsg, NULL);
+        (free)(errmsg);
         return false;
     }
 
diff --git a/Source/i_sound.c b/Source/i_sound.c
index d6ef89ae..9da162ba 100644
--- a/Source/i_sound.c
+++ b/Source/i_sound.c
@@ -760,8 +760,17 @@ void I_InitSound(void)
          if (midi_player_module)
          {
             active_module = midi_player_module;
-            active_module->I_InitMusic();
-            I_AtExit(active_module->I_ShutdownMusic, true);
+            if (active_module->I_InitMusic())
+            {
+              I_AtExit(active_module->I_ShutdownMusic, true);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+              // fall back to Native/SDL on error
+              midi_player = 0;
+              midi_player_module = NULL;
+              active_module = &music_sdl_module;
+            }
          }
       }
    }