diff --git a/bumblebee/modules/pulseaudio.py b/bumblebee/modules/pulseaudio.py
index c4eb000..97f1c4a 100644
--- a/bumblebee/modules/pulseaudio.py
+++ b/bumblebee/modules/pulseaudio.py
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 
 Aliases: pasink, pasource
 
+Parameters:
+    * pulseaudio.autostart: If set to "true" (default), automatically starts the pulseaudio daemon if it is not running
+
 Requires the following executable:
     * pactl
 """
@@ -31,6 +34,7 @@ class Module(bumblebee.engine.Module):
         self._right = 0
         self._mono = 0
         self._mute = False
+        self._failed = False
         channel = "sink" if self.name == "pasink" else "source"
 
         self._patterns = [
@@ -76,32 +80,43 @@ class Module(bumblebee.engine.Module):
         return "n/a"
 
     def volume(self, widget):
+        if self._failed == True:
+            return "n/a"
         if int(self._mono) > 0:
             return "{}%".format(self._mono)
         elif self._left == self._right:
             return "{}%".format(self._left)
         else:
             return "{}%/{}%".format(self._left, self._right)
-        return "n/a"
 
     def update(self, widgets):
-        channel = "sinks" if self.name == "pasink" else "sources"
-        device = self._default_device()
+        try:
+            self._failed = False
+            channel = "sinks" if self.name == "pasink" else "sources"
+            device = self._default_device()
 
-        result = bumblebee.util.execute("pacmd list-{}".format(channel))
-        found = False
+            result = bumblebee.util.execute("pacmd list-{}".format(channel))
+            found = False
 
-        for line in result.split("\n"):
-            if device in line:
-                found = True
-                continue
-            if found == False:
-                continue
-            for pattern in self._patterns:
-                if not pattern["expr"] in line:
+            for line in result.split("\n"):
+                if device in line:
+                    found = True
                     continue
-                if pattern["callback"](line) == False and found == True:
-                    return
+                if found == False:
+                    continue
+                for pattern in self._patterns:
+                    if not pattern["expr"] in line:
+                        continue
+                    if pattern["callback"](line) == False and found == True:
+                        return
+        except Exception:
+            self._failed = True
+            if self.parameter("autostart", "true") == "true":
+                try:
+                    bumblebee.util.execute("pulseaudio --start")
+                    self.update(widgets)
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
 
     def state(self, widget):
         if self._mute: