diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/RecordingActivity.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/RecordingActivity.java
index 64446e930b1bdcae45700b84612855e29797e563..231a8600d239851db4c35d447cb628b929e70d8d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/RecordingActivity.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/RecordingActivity.java
@@ -105,7 +105,12 @@ public class RecordingActivity extends BaseActivity implements View.OnClickListe
 
     private boolean startRecording() {
         mRecorder = new MediaRecorder();
-        mRecorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.MIC);
+        try {
+            mRecorder.setAudioSource(MediaRecorder.AudioSource.MIC);
+        } catch (final RuntimeException e) {
+            Log.e(Config.LOGTAG,"could not set audio source", e);
+            return false;
+        }
         if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.R) {
             mRecorder.setPrivacySensitive(true);
         }