diff --git a/audio/audio_hw.c b/audio/audio_hw.c
index 8194d1f..f97758c 100644
--- a/audio/audio_hw.c
+++ b/audio/audio_hw.c
@@ -218,6 +218,10 @@ static int amplifier_open(void)
     rc = hw_get_module(AMPLIFIER_HARDWARE_MODULE_ID,
             (const hw_module_t **) &module);
     if (rc) {
+        if (rc == -ENOENT) {
+            // no amplifier HAL present
+            return -ENOENT;
+        }
         ALOGV("%s: Failed to obtain reference to amplifier module: %s\n",
                 __func__, strerror(-rc));
         return -ENODEV;
@@ -4371,7 +4375,7 @@ static int adev_open(const hw_module_t *module, const char *name,
         return -EINVAL;
     }
 
-    if (amplifier_open() != 0) {
+    if (amplifier_open() != -ENOENT) {
         ALOGE("Amplifier initialization failed");
     }