diff --git a/anki/sound.py b/anki/sound.py
index 8dc2223b5b2..147fe606cc6 100644
--- a/anki/sound.py
+++ b/anki/sound.py
@@ -149,16 +149,20 @@ def cleanupOldMplayerProcesses():
 
     exeDir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(sys.argv[0]))
 
-    for proc in psutil.process_iter(attrs=['pid', 'name', 'exe']):
-        if not proc.info['exe'] or proc.info['name'] != 'mplayer.exe':
-            continue
+    for proc in psutil.process_iter():
+        try:
+            info = proc.as_dict(attrs=['pid', 'name', 'exe'])
+            if not info['exe'] or info['name'] != 'mplayer.exe':
+                continue
 
-        # not anki's bundled mplayer
-        if os.path.dirname(proc.info['exe']) != exeDir:
-            continue
+            # not anki's bundled mplayer
+            if os.path.dirname(info['exe']) != exeDir:
+                continue
 
-        print("terminating old mplayer process...")
-        proc.kill()
+            print("terminating old mplayer process...")
+            proc.kill()
+        except SystemError:
+            pass
 
 mplayerCmd = ["mplayer", "-really-quiet", "-noautosub"]
 if isWin: