diff --git a/device/alsa/alsa.go b/device/alsa/alsa.go
index be2117a4..b17a5031 100644
--- a/device/alsa/alsa.go
+++ b/device/alsa/alsa.go
@@ -105,9 +105,6 @@ type Logger interface {
 	Log(level int8, message string, params ...interface{})
 }
 
-// OpenError is used to determine whether an error has originated from attempting to open a device.
-type OpenError error
-
 // New initializes and returns an ALSA device which has its logger set as the given logger.
 func New(l Logger) *ALSA { return &ALSA{l: l} }
 
@@ -239,7 +236,7 @@ func (d *ALSA) open() error {
 	d.l.Log(logger.Debug, "opening sound card")
 	cards, err := yalsa.OpenCards()
 	if err != nil {
-		return OpenError(err)
+		return err
 	}
 	defer yalsa.CloseCards(cards)
 
@@ -260,13 +257,13 @@ func (d *ALSA) open() error {
 		}
 	}
 	if d.dev == nil {
-		return OpenError(errors.New("no ALSA device found"))
+		return errors.New("no ALSA device found")
 	}
 
 	d.l.Log(logger.Debug, "opening ALSA device", "title", d.dev.Title)
 	err = d.dev.Open()
 	if err != nil {
-		return OpenError(err)
+		return err
 	}
 
 	// Try to configure device with chosen channels.
@@ -276,7 +273,7 @@ func (d *ALSA) open() error {
 		channels, err = d.dev.NegotiateChannels(2)
 	}
 	if err != nil {
-		return OpenError(fmt.Errorf("device is unable to record with requested number of channels: %w", err))
+		return fmt.Errorf("device is unable to record with requested number of channels: %w", err)
 	}
 	d.l.Log(logger.Debug, "alsa device channels set", "channels", channels)
 
@@ -309,7 +306,7 @@ func (d *ALSA) open() error {
 		d.l.Log(logger.Warning, "unable to sample at requested rate, default used.", "rateRequested", d.SampleRate)
 		rate, err = d.dev.NegotiateRate(defaultSampleRate)
 		if err != nil {
-			return OpenError(err)
+			return err
 		}
 		d.l.Log(logger.Debug, "alsa device sample rate set", "rate", rate)
 	}
@@ -321,7 +318,7 @@ func (d *ALSA) open() error {
 	case 32:
 		aFmt = yalsa.S32_LE
 	default:
-		return OpenError(fmt.Errorf("unsupported sample bits %v", d.BitDepth))
+		return fmt.Errorf("unsupported sample bits %v", d.BitDepth)
 	}
 	devFmt, err := d.dev.NegotiateFormat(aFmt)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -334,7 +331,7 @@ func (d *ALSA) open() error {
 	case yalsa.S32_LE:
 		bitdepth = 32
 	default:
-		return OpenError(fmt.Errorf("unsupported sample bits %v", d.BitDepth))
+		return fmt.Errorf("unsupported sample bits %v", d.BitDepth)
 	}
 	d.l.Log(logger.Debug, "alsa device bit depth set", "bitdepth", bitdepth)
 
@@ -349,12 +346,12 @@ func (d *ALSA) open() error {
 	// At least two period sizes should fit within the buffer.
 	bufSize, err := d.dev.NegotiateBufferSize(nearWantPeriodSize * 2)
 	if err != nil {
-		return OpenError(err)
+		return err
 	}
 	d.l.Log(logger.Debug, "alsa device buffer size set", "buffersize", bufSize)
 
 	if err = d.dev.Prepare(); err != nil {
-		return OpenError(err)
+		return err
 	}
 
 	d.l.Log(logger.Debug, "successfully negotiated device params")