diff --git a/src/alsa.c b/src/alsa.c
index c7e844b..fa06281 100644
--- a/src/alsa.c
+++ b/src/alsa.c
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ const char *port_category_names[PC_COUNT] = {
 };
 
 // global array of cards
-GArray *alsa_cards;
+static GArray *alsa_cards;
 
 // static fd and wd for ALSA inotify
 static int inotify_fd, inotify_wd;
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ static void alsa_get_serial_number(struct alsa_card *card) {
   card->serial = strdup(serial);
 }
 
-void alsa_scan_cards(void) {
+static void alsa_scan_cards(void) {
   snd_ctl_card_info_t *info;
   snd_ctl_t           *ctl;
   int                  card_num = -1;
@@ -787,7 +787,7 @@ static gboolean inotify_callback(
   return TRUE;
 }
 
-void alsa_inotify_init(void) {
+static void alsa_inotify_init(void) {
   GIOChannel *io_channel;
 
   inotify_fd = inotify_init();
@@ -799,3 +799,9 @@ void alsa_inotify_init(void) {
     inotify_callback, NULL, NULL
   );
 }
+
+void alsa_init(void) {
+  alsa_cards = g_array_new(FALSE, TRUE, sizeof(struct alsa_card *));
+  alsa_inotify_init();
+  alsa_scan_cards();
+}
diff --git a/src/alsa.h b/src/alsa.h
index 3cf899b..0c24e06 100644
--- a/src/alsa.h
+++ b/src/alsa.h
@@ -193,9 +193,6 @@ struct alsa_card {
   double              drag_x, drag_y;
 };
 
-// global array of cards
-extern GArray *alsa_cards;
-
 // utility
 void fatal_alsa_error(const char *msg, int err);
 
@@ -226,6 +223,5 @@ char *alsa_get_item_name(struct alsa_elem *elem, int i);
 // add to alsa_cards array
 struct alsa_card *card_create(int card_num);
 
-// scan/rescan for cards
-void alsa_scan_cards(void);
-void alsa_inotify_init(void);
+// init
+void alsa_init(void);
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index d9b5de0..969bd38 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -32,12 +32,9 @@ static void load_css(void) {
 static void startup(GtkApplication *app, gpointer user_data) {
   gtk_application_set_menubar(app, G_MENU_MODEL(create_app_menu(app)));
 
-  alsa_inotify_init();
-  alsa_cards = g_array_new(FALSE, TRUE, sizeof(struct alsa_card *));
-
   load_css();
 
-  alsa_scan_cards();
+  alsa_init();
 
   create_no_card_window();
   create_hardware_window(app);