diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d8e1b2f..7a9415e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,4 +6,8 @@ Timer which loops over the specified interval, playing your default notification
 
 ### 2025-07-11
 (This article)[https://sijus.medium.com/resurrecting-a-5-year-old-android-app-a-developers-journey-59d8f5689e5b]
- was very helpful in getting this app updated from SDK 25 to 36.
\ No newline at end of file
+ was very helpful in getting this app updated from SDK 25 to 36.
+
+## Licenses
+Chime sound byte came free from here:
+https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/chime-sound-7143/
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/hyperling/apps/infinitetimer/MainActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/com/hyperling/apps/infinitetimer/MainActivity.java
index ac98a9b..70f1b0d 100755
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/hyperling/apps/infinitetimer/MainActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/hyperling/apps/infinitetimer/MainActivity.java
@@ -1,13 +1,17 @@
 package com.hyperling.apps.infinitetimer;
 
+import android.app.NotificationManager;
+import android.content.DialogInterface;
 import android.content.SharedPreferences;
 import android.graphics.Color;
 import android.media.MediaPlayer;
+import android.media.Ringtone;
 import android.media.RingtoneManager;
 import android.net.Uri;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.os.Handler;
 import android.os.Message;
+import android.support.v7.app.AlertDialog;
 import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
 import android.util.Log;
 import android.view.View;
@@ -68,17 +72,60 @@ public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
 
         stringChronometerDefault = getString(R.string.chronometerDefault);
 
+        if (DEBUG) Log.d(tag, "Got strings.");
+
         /***** Shared Preferences *****/
         sharedPreferences = getSharedPreferences(keySharedPreferences, MODE_PRIVATE);
         DEBUG = sharedPreferences.getBoolean(keyDebug, true);
         appOpen = sharedPreferences.getBoolean(keyAppOpen, false);
         serviceRunning = sharedPreferences.getBoolean(keyServiceRunning, false);
 
+        if (DEBUG) Log.d(tag, "Got preferences.");
+
         // Sound
         ringtoneUri = RingtoneManager.getDefaultUri(RingtoneManager.TYPE_NOTIFICATION);
+        if (DEBUG) Log.d(tag, "ringtoneUri=" + ringtoneUri.toString());
         mediaPlayer = MediaPlayer.create(this, ringtoneUri);
+        if (mediaPlayer == null) {
+            if (DEBUG) Log.d(tag, "Media Player is null, trying alarm");
+            ringtoneUri = RingtoneManager.getDefaultUri(RingtoneManager.TYPE_ALARM);
+            mediaPlayer = MediaPlayer.create(this, ringtoneUri);
+        }
+        if (mediaPlayer == null) {
+            if (DEBUG) Log.d(tag, "Media Player is null, trying ringtone");
+            ringtoneUri = RingtoneManager.getDefaultUri(RingtoneManager.TYPE_RINGTONE);
+            mediaPlayer = MediaPlayer.create(this, ringtoneUri);
+        }
+        if (mediaPlayer == null) {
+            if (DEBUG) Log.d(tag, "Media Player is null, trying all");
+            ringtoneUri = RingtoneManager.getDefaultUri(RingtoneManager.TYPE_ALL);
+            mediaPlayer = MediaPlayer.create(this, ringtoneUri);
+        }
+        if (mediaPlayer == null) {
+            if (DEBUG) Log.d(tag, "Media Player is null, trying local sound byte");
+            mediaPlayer = MediaPlayer.create(this, R.raw.chime_sound_7143);
+        }
+        if (mediaPlayer == null) {
+            String message = "Could not find a notification, alarm, or ringtone to play.";
+            message += " App will not be able to function without one of these.";
+            message += " Please exit and install a system notification sound.";
 
-        if (DEBUG) Log.d(tag, "Got strings.");
+            new AlertDialog.Builder(MainActivity.this)
+                .setTitle("Error")
+                .setMessage(message)
+                .setPositiveButton("Exit", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
+                    @Override
+                    public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
+                        dialog.dismiss();
+                        finish();
+                    }
+                })
+                .setCancelable(false)
+                .show()
+            ;
+        } else {
+            if (DEBUG) Log.d(tag, "mediaPlayer=" + mediaPlayer.toString());
+        }
 
         if (DEBUG){
             // Print all preferences
@@ -537,13 +584,34 @@ public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
         String tag = TAG + "playSound";
         if (DEBUG) Log.d(tag, "Starting");
 
-        /* Original code, did not work on Nexus 7 with CM 12.1-20151117 (Android 5.1.1)
+        /* Original code, did not work on Nexus 7 with CM 12.1-20151117 (Android 5.1.1) * /
         Ringtone ringtone = RingtoneManager.getRingtone(getApplicationContext(), ringtoneUri);
         ringtone.play();
-        */
+        /**/
 
-        //mediaPlayer.reset();
-        mediaPlayer.start();
+        try {
+            mediaPlayer.start();
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            sharedPreferences.edit().putBoolean(keyStartStop, false).apply();
+
+            String message = "Failed to play a notification sound.";
+            message += " Please screenshot this error and send it to me@hyperling.com:\n\n";
+            message += e.toString();
+
+            new AlertDialog.Builder(MainActivity.this)
+                .setTitle("Error")
+                .setMessage(message)
+                .setPositiveButton("Exit", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
+                    @Override
+                    public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
+                        dialog.dismiss();
+                        finish();
+                    }
+                })
+                .setCancelable(false)
+                .show()
+            ;
+        }
 
         if (DEBUG) Log.d(tag, "Finished");
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/raw/chime_sound_7143.mp3 b/app/src/main/res/raw/chime_sound_7143.mp3
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d9dbf34
Binary files /dev/null and b/app/src/main/res/raw/chime_sound_7143.mp3 differ