diff --git a/mopidy/mixers/alsa.py b/mopidy/mixers/alsa.py
index 12bc9193..9bcd8b6f 100644
--- a/mopidy/mixers/alsa.py
+++ b/mopidy/mixers/alsa.py
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 import alsaaudio
+import logging
 
 from mopidy.mixers import BaseMixer
 
+logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.mixers.alsa')
+
 class AlsaMixer(BaseMixer):
     """
     Mixer which uses the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) to control
@@ -10,7 +13,16 @@ class AlsaMixer(BaseMixer):
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(AlsaMixer, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        self._mixer = alsaaudio.Mixer()
+        # A mixer named 'Master' does not always exist, so we fall back to
+        # using 'PCM'. If this turns out to be a bad solution, we should make
+        # it possible to override with a setting.
+        self._mixer = None
+        for mixer_name in (u'Master', u'PCM'):
+            if mixer_name in alsaaudio.mixers():
+                logger.info(u'Mixer in use: %s', mixer_name)
+                self._mixer = alsaaudio.Mixer(mixer_name)
+                break
+        assert self._mixer is not None
 
     def _get_volume(self):
         return self._mixer.getvolume()[0]