diff --git a/src/audio/soundcore.c b/src/audio/soundcore.c
index 9df45cb1..042e97bf 100644
--- a/src/audio/soundcore.c
+++ b/src/audio/soundcore.c
@@ -134,3 +134,11 @@ void audio_shutdown(void) {
     audio_isAvailable = false;
 }
 
+void audio_pause(void) {
+    audio_backend->pause();
+}
+
+void audio_resume(void) {
+    audio_backend->resume();
+}
+
diff --git a/src/audio/soundcore.h b/src/audio/soundcore.h
index 9819cb7c..4e8392ba 100644
--- a/src/audio/soundcore.h
+++ b/src/audio/soundcore.h
@@ -59,24 +59,8 @@ typedef struct AudioBuffer_s {
 
 } AudioBuffer_s;
 
-typedef struct AudioParams_s {
-    uint16_t nChannels;
-    unsigned long nSamplesPerSec;
-    unsigned long nAvgBytesPerSec;
-    uint16_t nBlockAlign;
-    uint16_t wBitsPerSample;
-    unsigned long dwBufferBytes;
-} AudioParams_s;
-
-typedef struct AudioContext_s {
-    void *implementation_specific;
-    long (*CreateSoundBuffer)(const AudioParams_s *params, INOUT AudioBuffer_s **buffer, const struct AudioContext_s *sound_system);
-    long (*DestroySoundBuffer)(INOUT AudioBuffer_s **buffer);
-} AudioContext_s;
-
 
 long DSGetLock(AudioBuffer_s *bufferObj, unsigned long dwOffset, unsigned long dwBytes, INOUT int16_t **samplesBuf, INOUT unsigned long *samplesBufSz, INOUT int16_t **samplesBufAlt, INOUT unsigned long *samplesBufAltSz);
-
 long DSGetSoundBuffer(INOUT AudioBuffer_s **pVoice, unsigned long dwFlags, unsigned long dwBufferSize, unsigned long nSampleRate, int nChannels);
 void DSReleaseSoundBuffer(INOUT AudioBuffer_s **pVoice);
 
@@ -90,8 +74,39 @@ bool audio_init(void);
  */
 void audio_shutdown(void);
 
+/*
+ * Pause the audio subsystem.
+ */
+void audio_pause(void);
+
+/*
+ * Resume the audio subsystem.
+ */
+void audio_resume(void);
+
+/*
+ * Is the audio subsystem available?
+ */
 extern bool audio_isAvailable;
 
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Private audio backend APIs
+
+typedef struct AudioParams_s {
+    uint16_t nChannels;
+    unsigned long nSamplesPerSec;
+    unsigned long nAvgBytesPerSec;
+    uint16_t nBlockAlign;
+    uint16_t wBitsPerSample;
+    unsigned long dwBufferBytes;
+} AudioParams_s;
+
+typedef struct AudioContext_s {
+    void *implementation_specific;
+    PRIVATE long (*CreateSoundBuffer)(const AudioParams_s *params, INOUT AudioBuffer_s **buffer, const struct AudioContext_s *sound_system);
+    PRIVATE long (*DestroySoundBuffer)(INOUT AudioBuffer_s **buffer);
+} AudioContext_s;
+
 typedef struct AudioBackend_s {
 
     // basic backend functionality controlled by soundcore
@@ -99,14 +114,12 @@ typedef struct AudioBackend_s {
     PRIVATE long (*shutdown)(INOUT AudioContext_s **audio_context);
     PRIVATE long (*enumerateDevices)(INOUT char ***sound_devices, const int maxcount);
 
-    PUBLIC long (*pause)(void);
-    PUBLIC long (*resume)(void);
+    PRIVATE long (*pause)(void);
+    PRIVATE long (*resume)(void);
 
 } AudioBackend_s;
 
-/*
- * The registered audio backend (renderer).
- */
-extern AudioBackend_s *audio_backend;
+// Audio backend registered at CTOR time
+PRIVATE extern AudioBackend_s *audio_backend;
 
 #endif /* whole file */
diff --git a/src/interface.c b/src/interface.c
index 53ff05d7..b1eb4719 100644
--- a/src/interface.c
+++ b/src/interface.c
@@ -1549,7 +1549,7 @@ static void *interface_thread(void *current_key)
 {
     pthread_mutex_lock(&interface_mutex);
 #ifdef AUDIO_ENABLED
-    audio_backend->pause();
+    audio_pause();
 #endif
     in_interface = true;
 
@@ -1593,7 +1593,7 @@ static void *interface_thread(void *current_key)
     }
 
 #ifdef AUDIO_ENABLED
-    audio_backend->resume();
+    audio_resume();
 #endif
     pthread_mutex_unlock(&interface_mutex);
     in_interface = false;