diff --git a/sbin/devd/snd.conf b/sbin/devd/snd.conf
index 3fc1cb9f0b0..ecaec62bc6c 100644
--- a/sbin/devd/snd.conf
+++ b/sbin/devd/snd.conf
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ notify 0 {
 
 	# Other audio servers or device switching commands can be used here
 	# instead of virtual_oss(8).
-	action			"/usr/sbin/virtual_oss_cmd \
-		/dev/$(sysrc -n virtual_oss_default_control_device) -R /dev/$cdev";
+	action			"\
+		vd=/dev/$(sysrc -n virtual_oss_default_control_device); \
+		test -e ${vd} && /usr/sbin/virtual_oss_cmd ${vd} -R /dev/$cdev";
 };
 
 notify 0 {
@@ -18,8 +19,9 @@ notify 0 {
 	match "cdev"		"dsp[0-9]+";
 
 	# See comment above.
-	action			"/usr/sbin/virtual_oss_cmd \
-		/dev/$(sysrc -n virtual_oss_default_control_device) -P /dev/$cdev";
+	action			"\
+		vd=/dev/$(sysrc -n virtual_oss_default_control_device); \
+		test -e ${vd} && /usr/sbin/virtual_oss_cmd ${vd} -P /dev/$cdev";
 };
 
 notify 0 {
@@ -29,6 +31,7 @@ notify 0 {
 
 	# No connected devices. Disable both recording and playback to avoid
 	# repeated virtual_oss error messages.
-	action			"/usr/sbin/virtual_oss_cmd \
-		/dev/$(sysrc -n virtual_oss_default_control_device) -f /dev/null";
+	action			"\
+		vd=/dev/$(sysrc -n virtual_oss_default_control_device); \
+		test -e ${vd} && /usr/sbin/virtual_oss_cmd ${vd} -f /dev/null";
 };