diff --git a/src/backend/backend.py b/src/backend/backend.py
index f02ebeb1..5e6db08f 100644
--- a/src/backend/backend.py
+++ b/src/backend/backend.py
@@ -20,7 +20,16 @@ import aiohttp
 import nio
 import plyer
 import pyotherside
-import simpleaudio
+
+has_simpleaudio = True
+try:
+    import simpleaudio
+except ImportError as e:
+    trace = traceback.format_exc().rstrip()
+    log.error("Importing simpleaudio failed\n%s", trace)
+    has_simpleaudio = False
+
+
 from appdirs import AppDirs
 from nio.client.async_client import client_session
 
@@ -590,6 +599,13 @@ class Backend:
 
 
     async def sound_notify(self) -> None:
+
+        if not has_simpleaudio:
+            if self.audio_working:
+                log.error("Playing audio not supported as python-simpleaudio is not installed")
+                self.audio_working = False
+            return
+
         path = self.settings.Notifications.default_sound
         path = str(Path(path).expanduser())
 
diff --git a/src/backend/matrix_client.py b/src/backend/matrix_client.py
index 9831d6eb..fc9e5966 100644
--- a/src/backend/matrix_client.py
+++ b/src/backend/matrix_client.py
@@ -2922,8 +2922,8 @@ class MatrixClient(nio.AsyncClient):
             )
 
         sender   = item.sender_name or item.sender_id
-        is_linux = platform.system() == "Linux"
-        use_html = is_linux and self.backend.settings.Notifications.use_html
+        is_nix = platform.system() == "Linux" or "BSD" in platform.system()
+        use_html = is_nix and self.backend.settings.Notifications.use_html
         content  = item.inline_content if use_html else item.plain_content
 
         if isinstance(ev, nio.RoomMessageEmote) and use_html: