diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index b6b35342d3..7520648871 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+2004-11-11  Ronald S. Bultje  <rbultje@ronald.bitfreak.net>
+
+	* ext/alsa/gstalsa.c: (gst_alsa_change_state):
+	  Only set hardware parameters *after* negotiation. Before
+	  negotiation, it will set ANY and that seems to cause crashes
+	  (see e.g. #151288, #153227).
+
 2004-11-10  Ronald S. Bultje  <rbultje@ronald.bitfreak.net>
 
 	* ext/alsa/gstalsasink.c: (gst_alsa_sink_get_time):
diff --git a/ext/alsa/gstalsa.c b/ext/alsa/gstalsa.c
index 8c35e5a572..cfe94c4ed5 100644
--- a/ext/alsa/gstalsa.c
+++ b/ext/alsa/gstalsa.c
@@ -1100,9 +1100,6 @@ gst_alsa_change_state (GstElement * element)
         return GST_STATE_FAILURE;
       break;
     case GST_STATE_READY_TO_PAUSED:
-      if (!(GST_FLAG_IS_SET (element, GST_ALSA_RUNNING) ||
-              gst_alsa_start_audio (this)))
-        return GST_STATE_FAILURE;
       this->played = 0;
       this->captured = 0;
       break;
@@ -1113,8 +1110,14 @@ gst_alsa_change_state (GstElement * element)
               snd_strerror (err));
           return GST_STATE_FAILURE;
         }
-      } else if (!(GST_FLAG_IS_SET (element, GST_ALSA_RUNNING) ||
-              gst_alsa_start_audio (this))) {
+      }
+      /* If we were already negotiated, but we are not running, then
+       * we stopped (probably because we paused), so re-start. If
+       * there's no format, we didn't negotiate yet so don't do
+       * anything because ALSA will crash (#151288, #153227, etc.). */
+      else if (this->format != NULL &&
+          !GST_FLAG_IS_SET (element, GST_ALSA_RUNNING) &&
+          !gst_alsa_start_audio (this)) {
         return GST_STATE_FAILURE;
       }
       gst_alsa_clock_start (this->clock);