diff --git a/device/alsa/alsa.go b/device/alsa/alsa.go
index e372d3a2..bb1f1125 100644
--- a/device/alsa/alsa.go
+++ b/device/alsa/alsa.go
@@ -377,7 +377,10 @@ func (d *ALSA) input() {
 				d.dev.Close()
 				d.dev = nil
 			}
-			d.buf.Close()
+			err := d.buf.Close()
+			if err != nil {
+				d.l.Log(logger.Error, "unable to close pool buffer", "error", err)
+			}
 			return
 		}
 
@@ -418,7 +421,7 @@ func (d *ALSA) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
 	_, err := d.buf.Next(rbNextTimeout)
 	if err != nil {
 		switch err {
-		case nil, io.EOF:
+		case io.EOF:
 			d.l.Log(logger.Debug, pkg+"EOF from Next")
 			return 0, err
 		case pool.ErrTimeout:
@@ -435,7 +438,7 @@ func (d *ALSA) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
 	n, err := d.buf.Read(p)
 	if err != nil {
 		switch err {
-		case nil, io.EOF:
+		case io.EOF:
 			d.l.Log(logger.Debug, pkg+"EOF from Read")
 			return n, err
 		default: