diff --git a/lib/sounds.ts b/lib/sounds.ts
index 9083662..c449d43 100644
--- a/lib/sounds.ts
+++ b/lib/sounds.ts
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ export function playSoundUrl(url: string) {
       },
       onplayerror: (_id: number, err: unknown) => {
         console.error("[BaraBingo] Howl play error:", url, err);
+        h.once("unlock", () => h.play());
       },
     });
     howlCache.set(url, h);
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ export function playSoundUrl(url: string) {
  * Useful for preview/editor buttons where you want it to play every click.
  */
 export function playSoundOnce(url: string) {
-  new Howl({
+  const h = new Howl({
     src: [url],
     format: url.endsWith(".mp3") ? ["mp3"] : url.endsWith(".ogg") ? ["ogg"] : ["mp3", "ogg"],
     volume: 0.4,
@@ -151,8 +152,11 @@ export function playSoundOnce(url: string) {
     },
     onplayerror: (_id: number, err: unknown) => {
       console.error("[BaraBingo] Howl play error:", url, err);
+      // On play error (e.g. AudioContext suspended), unlock and retry
+      h.once("unlock", () => h.play());
     },
-  }).play();
+  });
+  h.play();
 }
 
 export function playSound(category: string, soundUrl?: string | null) {