diff --git a/sndiod/dev.c b/sndiod/dev.c
index ee11441..01a5388 100644
--- a/sndiod/dev.c
+++ b/sndiod/dev.c
@@ -58,7 +58,10 @@ int dev_getpos(struct dev *);
 struct dev *dev_new(char *, struct aparams *, unsigned int, unsigned int,
     unsigned int, unsigned int, unsigned int, unsigned int);
 void dev_adjpar(struct dev *, int, int, int);
+int dev_open_do(struct dev *);
 int dev_open(struct dev *);
+void dev_exitall(struct dev *);
+void dev_close_do(struct dev *);
 void dev_close(struct dev *);
 int dev_ref(struct dev *);
 void dev_unref(struct dev *);
@@ -973,7 +976,8 @@ dev_new(char *path, struct aparams *par,
 		return NULL;
 	}
 	d = xmalloc(sizeof(struct dev));
-	d->path = xstrdup(path);
+	d->path_list = NULL;
+	namelist_add(&d->path_list, path);
 	d->num = dev_sndnum++;
 	d->opt_list = NULL;
 
@@ -1043,27 +1047,14 @@ dev_adjpar(struct dev *d, int mode,
  * monitor, midi control, and any necessary conversions.
  */
 int
-dev_open(struct dev *d)
+dev_open_do(struct dev *d)
 {
 	int i, gunit;
 	struct ctl *c;
 
-	d->mode = d->reqmode;
-	d->round = d->reqround;
-	d->bufsz = d->reqbufsz;
-	d->rate = d->reqrate;
-	d->pchan = d->reqpchan;
-	d->rchan = d->reqrchan;
-	d->par = d->reqpar;
-	if (d->pchan == 0)
-		d->pchan = 2;
-	if (d->rchan == 0)
-		d->rchan = 2;
 	if (!dev_sio_open(d)) {
 		if (log_level >= 1) {
 			dev_log(d);
-			log_puts(": ");
-			log_puts(d->path);
 			log_puts(": failed to open audio device\n");
 		}
 		return 0;
@@ -1155,16 +1146,52 @@ dev_open(struct dev *d)
 }
 
 /*
- * force the device to go in DEV_CFG state, the caller is supposed to
- * ensure buffers are drained
+ * Reset parameters and open the device.
+ */
+int
+dev_open(struct dev *d)
+{
+	d->mode = d->reqmode;
+	d->round = d->reqround;
+	d->bufsz = d->reqbufsz;
+	d->rate = d->reqrate;
+	d->pchan = d->reqpchan;
+	d->rchan = d->reqrchan;
+	d->par = d->reqpar;
+	if (d->pchan == 0)
+		d->pchan = 2;
+	if (d->rchan == 0)
+		d->rchan = 2;
+	if (!dev_open_do(d))
+		return 0;
+	return 1;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Force all slots to exit
  */
 void
-dev_close(struct dev *d)
+dev_exitall(struct dev *d)
 {
 	int i;
 	struct slot *s;
 	struct ctl *c;
 
+	for (s = d->slot, i = DEV_NSLOT; i > 0; i--, s++) {
+		if (s->ops)
+			s->ops->exit(s->arg);
+		s->ops = NULL;
+	}
+	d->slot_list = NULL;
+}
+
+/*
+ * force the device to go in DEV_CFG state, the caller is supposed to
+ * ensure buffers are drained
+ */
+void
+dev_close_do(struct dev *d)
+{
 #ifdef DEBUG
 	if (log_level >= 3) {
 		dev_log(d);
@@ -1176,12 +1203,6 @@ dev_close(struct dev *d)
 		xfree(c);
 	}
 	d->pstate = DEV_CFG;
-	for (s = d->slot, i = DEV_NSLOT; i > 0; i--, s++) {
-		if (s->ops)
-			s->ops->exit(s->arg);
-		s->ops = NULL;
-	}
-	d->slot_list = NULL;
 	dev_siomix_close(d);
 	dev_sio_close(d);
 	if (d->mode & MODE_PLAY) {
@@ -1196,6 +1217,104 @@ dev_close(struct dev *d)
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+ * Close the device and exit all slots
+ */
+void
+dev_close(struct dev *d)
+{
+	dev_exitall(d);
+	dev_close_do(d);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Close the device, but attempt to migrate everything to a new sndio
+ * device.
+ */
+void
+dev_reopen(struct dev *d)
+{
+	struct slot *s;
+	long long pos;
+	unsigned int mode, round, bufsz, rate, pstate;
+	int delta;
+
+	/* not opened */
+	if (d->pstate == DEV_CFG)
+		return;
+
+	if (log_level >= 1) {
+		dev_log(d);
+		log_puts(": reopening device\n");
+	}
+
+	/* save state */
+	mode = d->mode;
+	round = d->round;
+	bufsz = d->bufsz;
+	rate = d->rate;
+	delta = d->delta;
+	pstate = d->pstate;
+
+	/* close device */
+	dev_close_do(d);
+
+	/* open device */
+	if (!dev_open_do(d)) {
+		if (log_level >= 1) {
+			dev_log(d);
+			log_puts(": found no working alternate device\n");
+		}
+		dev_exitall(d);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	/* check if new parameters are compatible with old ones */
+	if (d->mode != mode ||
+	    d->round != round ||
+	    d->bufsz != bufsz ||
+	    d->rate != rate) {
+		if (log_level >= 1) {
+			dev_log(d);
+			log_puts(": alternate device not compatible\n");
+		}
+		dev_close(d);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * adjust time positions, make anything go back delta ticks, so
+	 * that the new device can start at zero
+	 */
+	for (s = d->slot_list; s != NULL; s = s->next) {
+		pos = (long long)(d->round - delta) * s->round + s->delta_rem;
+		s->delta_rem = pos % d->round;
+		s->delta += pos / (int)d->round;
+		s->delta -= s->round;
+		if (log_level >= 2) {
+			slot_log(s);
+			log_puts(": adjusted: delta -> ");
+			log_puti(s->delta);
+			log_puts(", delta_rem -> ");
+			log_puti(s->delta_rem);
+			log_puts("\n");
+		}
+	}
+	if (d->tstate == MMC_RUN) {
+		d->mtc.delta -= delta * MTC_SEC;
+		if (log_level >= 2) {
+			dev_log(d);
+			log_puts(": adjusted mtc: delta ->");
+			log_puti(d->mtc.delta);
+			log_puts("\n");
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* start the device if needed */
+	if (pstate == DEV_RUN)
+		dev_wakeup(d);
+}
+
 int
 dev_ref(struct dev *d)
 {
@@ -1302,7 +1421,7 @@ dev_del(struct dev *d)
 	}
 	midi_del(d->midi);
 	*p = d->next;
-	xfree(d->path);
+	namelist_clear(&d->path_list);
 	xfree(d);
 }
 
diff --git a/sndiod/dev.h b/sndiod/dev.h
index 19303e8..961be85 100644
--- a/sndiod/dev.h
+++ b/sndiod/dev.h
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ struct dev {
 #define DEV_INIT	1			/* stopped */
 #define DEV_RUN		2			/* playin & recording */
 	unsigned int pstate;			/* one of above */
-	char *path;				/* sio path */
+	struct name *path_list;
 
 	/*
 	 * actual parameters and runtime state (i.e. once opened)
@@ -246,6 +246,7 @@ extern struct dev *dev_list;
 
 void dev_log(struct dev *);
 void dev_close(struct dev *);
+void dev_reopen(struct dev *);
 struct dev *dev_new(char *, struct aparams *, unsigned int, unsigned int,
     unsigned int, unsigned int, unsigned int, unsigned int);
 struct dev *dev_bynum(int);
diff --git a/sndiod/midi.c b/sndiod/midi.c
index b5cc4e8..00f941c 100644
--- a/sndiod/midi.c
+++ b/sndiod/midi.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ void port_imsg(void *, unsigned char *, int);
 void port_omsg(void *, unsigned char *, int);
 void port_fill(void *, int);
 void port_exit(void *);
+void port_exitall(struct port *);
 
 struct midiops port_midiops = {
 	port_imsg,
@@ -438,7 +439,8 @@ port_new(char *path, unsigned int mode, int hold)
 	struct port *c;
 
 	c = xmalloc(sizeof(struct port));
-	c->path = xstrdup(path);
+	c->path_list = NULL;
+	namelist_add(&c->path_list, path);
 	c->state = PORT_CFG;
 	c->hold = hold;
 	c->midi = midi_new(&port_midiops, c, mode);
@@ -468,7 +470,7 @@ port_del(struct port *c)
 #endif
 	}
 	*p = c->next;
-	xfree(c->path);
+	namelist_clear(&c->path_list);
 	xfree(c);
 }
 
@@ -521,7 +523,7 @@ port_open(struct port *c)
 {
 	if (!port_mio_open(c)) {
 		if (log_level >= 1) {
-			log_puts(c->path);
+			port_log(c);
 			log_puts(": failed to open midi port\n");
 		}
 		return 0;
@@ -530,11 +532,23 @@ port_open(struct port *c)
 	return 1;
 }
 
-int
-port_close(struct port *c)
+void
+port_exitall(struct port *c)
 {
 	int i;
 	struct midi *ep;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < MIDI_NEP; i++) {
+		ep = midi_ep + i;
+		if ((ep->txmask & c->midi->self) ||
+		    (c->midi->txmask & ep->self))
+			ep->ops->exit(ep->arg);
+	}
+}
+
+int
+port_close(struct port *c)
+{
 #ifdef DEBUG
 	if (c->state == PORT_CFG) {
 		port_log(c);
@@ -545,12 +559,7 @@ port_close(struct port *c)
 	c->state = PORT_CFG;
 	port_mio_close(c);
 
-	for (i = 0; i < MIDI_NEP; i++) {
-		ep = midi_ep + i;
-		if ((ep->txmask & c->midi->self) ||
-		    (c->midi->txmask & ep->self))
-			ep->ops->exit(ep->arg);
-	}
+	port_exitall(c);
 	return 1;
 }
 
@@ -586,3 +595,26 @@ port_done(struct port *c)
 	if (c->state == PORT_INIT)
 		port_drain(c);
 }
+
+void
+port_reopen(struct port *p)
+{
+	if (p->state == PORT_CFG)
+		return;
+
+	if (log_level >= 1) {
+		port_log(p);
+		log_puts(": reopening port\n");
+	}
+
+	port_mio_close(p);
+
+	if (!port_mio_open(p)) {
+		if (log_level >= 1) {
+			port_log(p);
+			log_puts(": found no working alternate port\n");
+		}
+		p->state = PORT_CFG;
+		port_exitall(p);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/sndiod/midi.h b/sndiod/midi.h
index 565cf21..26f6e86 100644
--- a/sndiod/midi.h
+++ b/sndiod/midi.h
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ struct port {
 #define PORT_DRAIN	2
 	unsigned int state;
 	unsigned int num;		/* port serial number */
-	char *path;			/* hold the port open ? */
-	int hold;
+	struct name *path_list;
+	int hold;			/* hold the port open ? */
 	struct midi *midi;
 };
 
@@ -121,5 +121,6 @@ int  port_init(struct port *);
 void port_done(struct port *);
 void port_drain(struct port *);
 int  port_close(struct port *);
+void port_reopen(struct port *);
 
 #endif /* !defined(MIDI_H) */
diff --git a/sndiod/miofile.c b/sndiod/miofile.c
index 5b037f0..7669468 100644
--- a/sndiod/miofile.c
+++ b/sndiod/miofile.c
@@ -44,13 +44,35 @@ struct fileops port_mio_ops = {
 	port_mio_hup
 };
 
+/*
+ * open the port using one of the provided paths
+ */
+static char *
+port_mio_openlist(struct port *c, unsigned int mode)
+{
+	struct name *n;
+
+	n = c->path_list;
+	while (1) {
+		if (n == NULL)
+			break;
+		c->mio.hdl = mio_open(n->str, mode, 1);
+		if (c->mio.hdl != NULL)
+			return n->str;
+		n = n->next;
+	}
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 int
 port_mio_open(struct port *p)
 {
-	p->mio.hdl = mio_open(p->path, p->midi->mode, 1);
+	char *path;
+
+	path = port_mio_openlist(p, p->midi->mode);
 	if (p->mio.hdl == NULL)
 		return 0;
-	p->mio.file = file_new(&port_mio_ops, p, p->path, mio_nfds(p->mio.hdl));
+	p->mio.file = file_new(&port_mio_ops, p, path, mio_nfds(p->mio.hdl));
 	return 1;
 }
 
@@ -128,5 +150,5 @@ port_mio_hup(void *arg)
 {
 	struct port *p = arg;
 
-	port_close(p);
+	port_reopen(p);
 }
diff --git a/sndiod/siofile.c b/sndiod/siofile.c
index d2f4ef4..60e4a28 100644
--- a/sndiod/siofile.c
+++ b/sndiod/siofile.c
@@ -84,6 +84,26 @@ dev_sio_timeout(void *arg)
 	dev_close(d);
 }
 
+/*
+ * open the device using one of the provided paths
+ */
+static char *
+dev_sio_openlist(struct dev *d, unsigned int mode)
+{
+	struct name *n;
+
+	n = d->path_list;
+	while (1) {
+		if (n == NULL)
+			break;
+		d->sio.hdl = sio_open(n->str, mode, 1);
+		if (d->sio.hdl != NULL)
+			return n->str;
+		n = n->next;
+	}
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 /*
  * open the device.
  */
@@ -92,17 +112,18 @@ dev_sio_open(struct dev *d)
 {
 	struct sio_par par;
 	unsigned int mode = d->mode & (MODE_PLAY | MODE_REC);
+	char *path;
 
-	d->sio.hdl = sio_open(d->path, mode, 1);
-	if (d->sio.hdl == NULL) {
+	path = dev_sio_openlist(d, mode);
+	if (path == NULL) {
 		if (mode != (SIO_PLAY | SIO_REC))
 			return 0;
-		d->sio.hdl = sio_open(d->path, SIO_PLAY, 1);
-		if (d->sio.hdl != NULL)
+		path = dev_sio_openlist(d, SIO_PLAY);
+		if (path != NULL)
 			mode = SIO_PLAY;
 		else {
-			d->sio.hdl = sio_open(d->path, SIO_REC, 1);
-			if (d->sio.hdl != NULL)
+			path = dev_sio_openlist(d, SIO_REC);
+			if (path != NULL)
 				mode = SIO_REC;
 			else
 				return 0;
@@ -144,35 +165,35 @@ dev_sio_open(struct dev *d)
 	 */
 
 	if (par.bits > BITS_MAX) {
-		log_puts(d->path);
+		dev_log(d);
 		log_puts(": ");
 		log_putu(par.bits);
 		log_puts(": unsupported number of bits\n");
 		goto bad_close;
 	}
 	if (par.bps > SIO_BPS(BITS_MAX)) {
-		log_puts(d->path);
+		dev_log(d);
 		log_puts(": ");
 		log_putu(par.bps);
 		log_puts(": unsupported sample size\n");
 		goto bad_close;
 	}
 	if ((mode & SIO_PLAY) && par.pchan > NCHAN_MAX) {
-		log_puts(d->path);
+		dev_log(d);
 		log_puts(": ");
 		log_putu(par.pchan);
 		log_puts(": unsupported number of play channels\n");
 		goto bad_close;
 	}
 	if ((mode & SIO_REC) && par.rchan > NCHAN_MAX) {
-		log_puts(d->path);
+		dev_log(d);
 		log_puts(": ");
 		log_putu(par.rchan);
 		log_puts(": unsupported number of rec channels\n");
 		goto bad_close;
 	}
 	if (par.bufsz == 0 || par.bufsz > RATE_MAX) {
-		log_puts(d->path);
+		dev_log(d);
 		log_puts(": ");
 		log_putu(par.bufsz);
 		log_puts(": unsupported buffer size\n");
@@ -180,14 +201,14 @@ dev_sio_open(struct dev *d)
 	}
 	if (par.round == 0 || par.round > par.bufsz ||
 	    par.bufsz % par.round != 0) {
-		log_puts(d->path);
+		dev_log(d);
 		log_puts(": ");
 		log_putu(par.round);
 		log_puts(": unsupported block size\n");
 		goto bad_close;
 	}
 	if (par.rate == 0 || par.rate > RATE_MAX) {
-		log_puts(d->path);
+		dev_log(d);
 		log_puts(": ");
 		log_putu(par.rate);
 		log_puts(": unsupported rate\n");
@@ -212,8 +233,14 @@ dev_sio_open(struct dev *d)
 	if (!(mode & MODE_REC))
 		d->mode &= ~MODE_REC;
 	sio_onmove(d->sio.hdl, dev_sio_onmove, d);
-	d->sio.file = file_new(&dev_sio_ops, d, d->path, sio_nfds(d->sio.hdl));
+	d->sio.file = file_new(&dev_sio_ops, d, path, sio_nfds(d->sio.hdl));
 	timo_set(&d->sio.watchdog, dev_sio_timeout, d);
+	if (log_level >= 1) {
+		dev_log(d);
+		log_puts(": using ");
+		log_puts(path);
+		log_puts("\n");
+	}
 	return 1;
  bad_close:
 	sio_close(d->sio.hdl);
@@ -494,5 +521,5 @@ dev_sio_hup(void *arg)
 		log_puts(": disconnected\n");
 	}
 #endif
-	dev_close(d);
+	dev_reopen(d);
 }
diff --git a/sndiod/sndiod.8 b/sndiod/sndiod.8
index 7c26b0b..58b29bf 100644
--- a/sndiod/sndiod.8
+++ b/sndiod/sndiod.8
@@ -29,10 +29,12 @@
 .Op Fl C Ar min : Ns Ar max
 .Op Fl c Ar min : Ns Ar max
 .Op Fl e Ar enc
+.Op Fl F Ar device
 .Op Fl f Ar device
 .Op Fl j Ar flag
 .Op Fl L Ar addr
 .Op Fl m Ar mode
+.Op Fl Q Ar port
 .Op Fl q Ar port
 .Op Fl r Ar rate
 .Op Fl s Ar name
@@ -182,6 +184,18 @@ or
 Only the signedness and the precision are mandatory.
 Examples:
 .Va u8 , s16le , s24le3 , s24le4lsb .
+.It Fl F Ar device
+Specify an alternate device to use.
+If doesn't work, the one given with the last
+.Fl f
+or
+.Fl F
+options will be used.
+For instance, specifying a USB device following a
+PCI device allows
+.Nm
+to use the USB one preferably when it's connected
+and to fall back to the PCI one when it's disconnected.
 .It Fl f Ar device
 Add this
 .Xr sndio 7
@@ -245,6 +259,15 @@ but the same sub-device cannot be used for both recording and monitoring.
 The default is
 .Ar play , Ns Ar rec
 (i.e. full-duplex).
+.It Fl Q Ar port
+Specify an alternate MIDI port to use.
+If doesn't work, the one given with the last
+.Fl Q
+or
+.Fl q
+options will be used.
+For instance, this allows to replace a USB MIDI controller without
+the need to restart programs using it.
 .It Fl q Ar port
 Expose the given MIDI port.
 This allows multiple programs to share the port.
@@ -376,11 +399,15 @@ is
 If
 .Nm
 is sent
-.Dv SIGHUP ,
 .Dv SIGINT
 or
 .Dv SIGTERM ,
 it terminates.
+If
+.Nm
+is sent
+.Dv SIGHUP ,
+it reopens all audio devices and MIDI ports.
 .Pp
 By default, when the program cannot accept
 recorded data fast enough or cannot provide data to play fast enough,
diff --git a/sndiod/sndiod.c b/sndiod/sndiod.c
index 5d3bd73..56cde52 100644
--- a/sndiod/sndiod.c
+++ b/sndiod/sndiod.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
  * block size if neither ``-z'' nor ``-b'' is used
  */
 #ifndef DEFAULT_ROUND
-#define DEFAULT_ROUND	960
+#define DEFAULT_ROUND	480
 #endif
 
 /*
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@
 #endif
 
 void sigint(int);
+void sighup(int);
 void opt_ch(int *, int *);
 void opt_enc(struct aparams *);
 int opt_mmc(void);
@@ -102,12 +103,13 @@ struct opt *mkopt(char *, struct dev *,
     int, int, int, int, int, int, int, int);
 
 unsigned int log_level = 0;
-volatile sig_atomic_t quit_flag = 0;
+volatile sig_atomic_t quit_flag = 0, reopen_flag = 0;
 
 char usagestr[] = "usage: sndiod [-d] [-a flag] [-b nframes] "
-    "[-C min:max] [-c min:max] [-e enc]\n\t"
-    "[-f device] [-j flag] [-L addr] [-m mode] [-q port] [-r rate]\n\t"
-    "[-s name] [-t mode] [-U unit] [-v volume] [-w flag] [-z nframes]\n";
+    "[-C min:max] [-c min:max]\n\t"
+    "[-e enc] [-F device] [-f device] [-j flag] [-L addr] [-m mode]\n\t"
+    "[-Q port] [-q port] [-r rate] [-s name] [-t mode] [-U unit]\n\t"
+    "[-v volume] [-w flag] [-z nframes]\n";
 
 /*
  * SIGINT handler, it raises the quit flag. If the flag is already set,
@@ -122,6 +124,16 @@ sigint(int s)
 	quit_flag = 1;
 }
 
+/*
+ * SIGHUP handler, it raises the reopen flag, which requests devices
+ * to be reopened.
+ */
+void
+sighup(int s)
+{
+	reopen_flag = 1;
+}
+
 void
 opt_ch(int *rcmin, int *rcmax)
 {
@@ -224,6 +236,7 @@ setsig(void)
 	struct sigaction sa;
 
 	quit_flag = 0;
+	reopen_flag = 0;
 	sigfillset(&sa.sa_mask);
 	sa.sa_flags = SA_RESTART;
 	sa.sa_handler = sigint;
@@ -231,6 +244,7 @@ setsig(void)
 		err(1, "sigaction(int) failed");
 	if (sigaction(SIGTERM, &sa, NULL) == -1)
 		err(1, "sigaction(term) failed");
+	sa.sa_handler = sighup;
 	if (sigaction(SIGHUP, &sa, NULL) == -1)
 		err(1, "sigaction(hup) failed");
 }
@@ -287,7 +301,8 @@ mkdev(char *path, struct aparams *par,
 	struct dev *d;
 
 	for (d = dev_list; d != NULL; d = d->next) {
-		if (strcmp(d->path, path) == 0)
+		if (d->path_list->next == NULL &&
+		    strcmp(d->path_list->str, path) == 0)
 			return d;
 	}
 	if (!bufsz && !round) {
@@ -309,7 +324,8 @@ mkport(char *path, int hold)
 	struct port *c;
 
 	for (c = port_list; c != NULL; c = c->next) {
-		if (strcmp(c->path, path) == 0)
+		if (c->path_list->next == NULL &&
+		    strcmp(c->path_list->str, path) == 0)
 			return c;
 	}
 	c = port_new(path, MODE_MIDIMASK, hold);
@@ -375,7 +391,8 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	mode = MODE_PLAY | MODE_REC;
 	tcpaddr_list = NULL;
 
-	while ((c = getopt(argc, argv, "a:b:c:C:de:f:j:L:m:q:r:s:t:U:v:w:x:z:")) != -1) {
+	while ((c = getopt(argc, argv,
+	    "a:b:c:C:de:F:f:j:L:m:Q:q:r:s:t:U:v:w:x:z:")) != -1) {
 		switch (c) {
 		case 'd':
 			log_level++;
@@ -432,6 +449,11 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		case 'q':
 			mkport(optarg, hold);
 			break;
+		case 'Q':
+			if (port_list == NULL)
+				errx(1, "-Q %s: no ports defined", optarg);
+			namelist_add(&port_list->path_list, optarg);
+			break;
 		case 'a':
 			hold = opt_onoff();
 			break;
@@ -452,6 +474,11 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 			mkdev(optarg, &par, 0, bufsz, round,
 			    rate, hold, autovol);
 			break;
+		case 'F':
+			if (dev_list == NULL)
+				errx(1, "-F %s: no devices defined", optarg);
+			namelist_add(&dev_list->path_list, optarg);
+			break;
 		default:
 			fputs(usagestr, stderr);
 			return 1;
@@ -519,6 +546,13 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	for (;;) {
 		if (quit_flag)
 			break;
+		if (reopen_flag) {
+			reopen_flag = 0;
+			for (d = dev_list; d != NULL; d = d->next)
+				dev_reopen(d);
+			for (p = port_list; p != NULL; p = p->next)
+				port_reopen(p);
+		}
 		if (!file_poll())
 			break;
 	}
diff --git a/sndiod/utils.c b/sndiod/utils.c
index ebb9fb5..bea290b 100644
--- a/sndiod/utils.c
+++ b/sndiod/utils.c
@@ -188,3 +188,30 @@ xstrdup(char *s)
 	memcpy(p, s, size);
 	return p;
 }
+
+/*
+ * copy and append the given string to the name list
+ */
+void
+namelist_add(struct name **list, char *str)
+{
+	struct name *n;
+	size_t size;
+
+	size = strlen(str) + 1;
+	n = xmalloc(sizeof(struct name) + size);
+	memcpy(n->str, str, size);
+	n->next = *list;
+	*list = n;
+}
+
+void
+namelist_clear(struct name **list)
+{
+	struct name *n;
+
+	while ((n = *list) != NULL) {
+		*list = n->next;
+		xfree(n);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/sndiod/utils.h b/sndiod/utils.h
index f11b675..ca3e089 100644
--- a/sndiod/utils.h
+++ b/sndiod/utils.h
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@
 
 #include <stddef.h>
 
+struct name {
+	struct name *next;
+	char str[];
+};
+
 void log_puts(char *);
 void log_putx(unsigned long);
 void log_putu(unsigned long);
@@ -31,6 +36,9 @@ void *xmalloc(size_t);
 char *xstrdup(char *);
 void xfree(void *);
 
+void namelist_add(struct name **, char *);
+void namelist_clear(struct name **);
+
 /*
  * Log levels:
  *