diff --git a/audio/audio.c b/audio/audio.c
index 2384612b87..6eccdb17ee 100644
--- a/audio/audio.c
+++ b/audio/audio.c
@@ -68,9 +68,26 @@ audio_driver *audio_driver_lookup(const char *name)
             return d;
         }
     }
+
+    audio_module_load_one(name);
+    QLIST_FOREACH(d, &audio_drivers, next) {
+        if (strcmp(name, d->name) == 0) {
+            return d;
+        }
+    }
+
     return NULL;
 }
 
+static void audio_module_load_all(void)
+{
+    int i;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(audio_prio_list); i++) {
+        audio_driver_lookup(audio_prio_list[i]);
+    }
+}
+
 struct fixed_settings {
     int enabled;
     int nb_voices;
@@ -1675,6 +1692,9 @@ void AUD_help (void)
 {
     struct audio_driver *d;
 
+    /* make sure we print the help text for modular drivers too */
+    audio_module_load_all();
+
     audio_process_options ("AUDIO", audio_options);
     QLIST_FOREACH(d, &audio_drivers, next) {
         if (d->options) {
diff --git a/include/qemu/module.h b/include/qemu/module.h
index 9fea75aaeb..54300ab6e5 100644
--- a/include/qemu/module.h
+++ b/include/qemu/module.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ typedef enum {
 
 #define block_module_load_one(lib) module_load_one("block-", lib)
 #define ui_module_load_one(lib) module_load_one("ui-", lib)
+#define audio_module_load_one(lib) module_load_one("audio-", lib)
 
 void register_module_init(void (*fn)(void), module_init_type type);
 void register_dso_module_init(void (*fn)(void), module_init_type type);