diff --git a/media_server/services/audio_analyzer.py b/media_server/services/audio_analyzer.py
index 997351f..285dd98 100644
--- a/media_server/services/audio_analyzer.py
+++ b/media_server/services/audio_analyzer.py
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ def _load_numpy():
         try:
             import numpy as np
             _np = np
-        except ImportError:
-            logger.info("numpy not installed - audio visualizer unavailable")
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning("numpy unavailable - audio visualizer disabled: %s", e)
     return _np
 
 
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ def _load_soundcard():
         try:
             import soundcard as sc
             _sc = sc
-        except ImportError:
-            logger.info("soundcard not installed - audio visualizer unavailable")
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning("soundcard unavailable - audio visualizer disabled: %s", e)
     return _sc
 
 
diff --git a/media_server/static/js/player.js b/media_server/static/js/player.js
index d5b303f..d85f5ac 100644
--- a/media_server/static/js/player.js
+++ b/media_server/static/js/player.js
@@ -485,7 +485,20 @@ export async function loadAudioDevices() {
         });
         _audioDeviceIconSelect.setValue(select.value, false);
 
+        // Sync visualizerAvailable from the fetched status so that
+        // applyVisualizerMode() and the toggle button are consistent.
+        visualizerAvailable = status.available;
+        const btn = document.getElementById('visualizerToggle');
+        if (btn) btn.style.display = visualizerAvailable ? '' : 'none';
+
         updateAudioDeviceStatus(status);
+
+        // Re-subscribe the WebSocket if the user had the visualizer enabled.
+        if (visualizerEnabled && visualizerAvailable) {
+            if (ws && ws.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
+                ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type: 'enable_visualizer' }));
+            }
+        }
     } catch (e) {
         section.style.display = 'none';
     }
diff --git a/media_server/static/js/websocket.js b/media_server/static/js/websocket.js
index 39ee4d0..f90c214 100644
--- a/media_server/static/js/websocket.js
+++ b/media_server/static/js/websocket.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
     WS_MAX_RECONNECT_ATTEMPTS, WS_PING_INTERVAL_MS,
     authRequired, showUpdateBanner,
 } from './core.js';
-import { updateUI, visualizerEnabled, visualizerAvailable, setFrequencyData, stopPositionInterpolation, loadAudioDevices } from './player.js';
+import { updateUI, setFrequencyData, stopPositionInterpolation, loadAudioDevices } from './player.js';
 import { loadScripts, loadScriptsTable, displayQuickAccess } from './scripts.js';
 import { loadCallbacksTable } from './callbacks.js';
 import { loadHeaderLinks, loadLinksTable } from './links.js';
@@ -81,9 +81,6 @@ export function connectWebSocket(token) {
         loadLinksTable();
         loadHeaderLinks();
         loadAudioDevices();
-        if (visualizerEnabled && visualizerAvailable) {
-            newWs.send(JSON.stringify({ type: 'enable_visualizer' }));
-        }
     };
 
     newWs.onmessage = (event) => {