diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/wizard/gear_utils.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/wizard/gear_utils.js
index 2a326ee86..d5c70d9a1 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/wizard/gear_utils.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/wizard/gear_utils.js
@@ -34,9 +34,11 @@
   // as well have a score below 20 ms
   gearUtils.canPlayWithOthers = function(profile) {
 
-    if(!context.jamClient.IsAudioStarted()) {
-      context.jamClient.ReloadAudioSystem(true, true, true);
-      context.jamClient.StopAudio();
+    if(gon.global.gear_check_reload_audio) {
+      if (!context.jamClient.IsAudioStarted()) {
+        context.jamClient.ReloadAudioSystem(true, true, true);
+        context.jamClient.StopAudio();
+      }
     }
 
 
diff --git a/web/config/application.rb b/web/config/application.rb
index ad3aff3e3..9a21433ce 100644
--- a/web/config/application.rb
+++ b/web/config/application.rb
@@ -332,5 +332,6 @@ if defined?(Bundler)
     config.alerts_api_enabled = true
 
     config.gear_check_ignore_high_latency = false
+    config.gear_check_reload_audio = true
   end
 end
diff --git a/web/config/initializers/gon.rb b/web/config/initializers/gon.rb
index ff5a4d74f..f9eb797f6 100644
--- a/web/config/initializers/gon.rb
+++ b/web/config/initializers/gon.rb
@@ -14,4 +14,5 @@ Gon.global.recurly_public_api_key = Rails.application.config.recurly_public_api_
 Gon.global.one_free_jamtrack_per_user = Rails.application.config.one_free_jamtrack_per_user
 Gon.global.video_available = Rails.application.config.video_available
 Gon.global.gear_check_ignore_high_latency = Rails.application.config.gear_check_ignore_high_latency
+Gon.global.gear_check_reload_audio = Rails.application.config.gear_check_reload_audio
 Gon.global.env = Rails.env