diff --git a/app/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-314.pyc b/app/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-314.pyc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..597b17f
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diff --git a/app/routes/__pycache__/api.cpython-314.pyc b/app/routes/__pycache__/api.cpython-314.pyc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4395750
Binary files /dev/null and b/app/routes/__pycache__/api.cpython-314.pyc differ
diff --git a/app/routes/api.py b/app/routes/api.py
index 2436513..93c0a0f 100644
--- a/app/routes/api.py
+++ b/app/routes/api.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from flask import Blueprint, jsonify, request, current_app
 import app.state as state
 from app.bluetooth.manager import MouldKing, advertiser, tracer
 from app.utils.helpers import load_default_sounds, load_soundboard_configs, load_soundboard_config
+from config import Config
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 audio_lock = threading.Lock()
@@ -43,8 +44,13 @@ def _load_sound(file_path):
     return snd
 
 
-def _play_sound_entry(sound_entry, channel_req=None, loop_req=0):
-    sounds_dir = current_app.config['SOUNDS_DIR']
+def _play_sound_entry(sound_entry, channel_req=None, loop_req=0, sounds_dir=None):
+    if sounds_dir is None:
+        try:
+            sounds_dir = current_app.config['SOUNDS_DIR']
+        except Exception:
+            sounds_dir = Config.SOUNDS_DIR
+
     base_path = sound_entry.get('base_path') or sounds_dir
     file_path = os.path.join(base_path, sound_entry['file'])
     if not os.path.exists(file_path):
@@ -120,7 +126,7 @@ def _auto_random_tick():
     # Play one random sound
     sound_entry, err = _pick_random_sound()
     if sound_entry:
-        _play_sound_entry(sound_entry, sound_entry.get('channel'), sound_entry.get('loop'))
+        _play_sound_entry(sound_entry, sound_entry.get('channel'), sound_entry.get('loop'), Config.SOUNDS_DIR)
     # schedule next
     delay = rand_between(imin, imax) * 60
     with auto_random_lock: