diff --git a/Kernel/Devices/Audio/AC97/AC97.cpp b/Kernel/Devices/Audio/AC97/AC97.cpp
index aef78e5aab..d70799e2a6 100644
--- a/Kernel/Devices/Audio/AC97/AC97.cpp
+++ b/Kernel/Devices/Audio/AC97/AC97.cpp
@@ -86,8 +86,6 @@ UNMAP_AFTER_INIT ErrorOr<void> AC97::initialize(Badge<AudioManagement>)
     dbgln_if(AC97_DEBUG, "AC97 @ {}: mixer base: {:#04x}", device_identifier().address(), m_mixer_io_window);
     dbgln_if(AC97_DEBUG, "AC97 @ {}: bus base: {:#04x}", device_identifier().address(), m_bus_io_window);
 
-    m_audio_channel = TRY(AudioChannel::create(*this, 0));
-
     // Read out AC'97 codec revision and vendor
     auto extended_audio_id = m_mixer_io_window->read16(NativeAudioMixerRegister::ExtendedAudioID);
     m_codec_revision = static_cast<AC97Revision>(((extended_audio_id & ExtendedAudioMask::Revision) >> 10) & 0b11);
@@ -133,6 +131,8 @@ UNMAP_AFTER_INIT ErrorOr<void> AC97::initialize(Badge<AudioManagement>)
 
     m_pcm_out_channel->reset();
     enable_irq();
+
+    m_audio_channel = TRY(AudioChannel::create(*this, 0));
     return {};
 }
 
diff --git a/Kernel/Devices/Audio/Channel.cpp b/Kernel/Devices/Audio/Channel.cpp
index d70e08f253..0f9da43d4d 100644
--- a/Kernel/Devices/Audio/Channel.cpp
+++ b/Kernel/Devices/Audio/Channel.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,15 @@ namespace Kernel {
 
 UNMAP_AFTER_INIT ErrorOr<NonnullRefPtr<AudioChannel>> AudioChannel::create(AudioController const& controller, size_t channel_index)
 {
-    return *TRY(DeviceManagement::try_create_device<AudioChannel>(controller, channel_index));
+    auto channel = TRY(DeviceManagement::try_create_device<AudioChannel>(controller, channel_index));
+
+    // FIXME: Ideally, we would want the audio controller to run a channel at a device's initial sample
+    //        rate instead of hardcoding 44.1 KHz here. However, most audio is provided at 44.1 KHz and as
+    //        long as Audio::Resampler introduces significant audio artifacts, let's set a sensible sample
+    //        rate here. Remove this after implementing a higher quality Audio::Resampler.
+    TRY(const_cast<AudioController&>(controller).set_pcm_output_sample_rate(channel_index, 44100));
+
+    return *channel;
 }
 
 AudioChannel::AudioChannel(AudioController const& controller, size_t channel_index)