diff --git a/src/library/socketwrappers.cpp b/src/library/socketwrappers.cpp
index ceef7e2b..f5716be1 100644
--- a/src/library/socketwrappers.cpp
+++ b/src/library/socketwrappers.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "socketwrappers.h"
 #include "logging.h"
 #include "global.h"
+#include "GlobalState.h"
 
 #include <sys/socket.h>
 #include <errno.h>
@@ -31,16 +32,33 @@ DEFINE_ORIG_POINTER(socket)
 /* Override */ int socket (int domain, int type, int protocol) __THROW
 {
     DEBUGLOGCALL(LCF_SOCKET);
+    LINK_NAMESPACE_GLOBAL(socket);
+
+    /* Passthrough socket call if this is a native call (e.g. ALSA init) or our own code (e.g. X connections) */
+    if (GlobalState::isNative() || GlobalState::isOwnCode()) {
+        return orig::socket(domain, type, protocol);
+    }
 
     /* Deny internet access */
     if (domain == AF_INET || domain == AF_INET6) {
+        /* HACK: ALSA might use PulseAudio for host audio playback, for e.g. WSL.
+         * PulseAudio might then proceed to call socket with AF_INET on a new thread
+         * We need to allow this connection, otherwise ALSA init will fail.
+         * We also can't mark PulseAudio's thread with pthread_setname_np,
+         * as PulseAudio will bypass that with prctl (a variadic function!) */
+        char thread_name[16];
+        if (pthread_getname_np(pthread_self(), thread_name, sizeof(thread_name)) == 0) {
+            if (strcmp(thread_name, "threaded-ml") == 0) {
+                return orig::socket(domain, type, protocol);
+            }
+        }
+
         if (!(Global::shared_config.debug_state & SharedConfig::DEBUG_NATIVE_INET)) {
             errno = EACCES;
             return -1;
         }
     }
 
-    LINK_NAMESPACE_GLOBAL(socket);
     return orig::socket(domain, type, protocol);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/library/xcb/xcbconnection.cpp b/src/library/xcb/xcbconnection.cpp
index 48beccab..253686ac 100644
--- a/src/library/xcb/xcbconnection.cpp
+++ b/src/library/xcb/xcbconnection.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "../hook.h"
 #include "../logging.h"
 #include "XcbEventQueueList.h"
+#include "../GlobalState.h"
 
 namespace libtas {
 
@@ -34,7 +35,13 @@ xcb_connection_t *xcb_connect(const char *displayname, int *screenp)
     DEBUGLOGCALL(LCF_WINDOW);
     LINK_NAMESPACE_GLOBAL(xcb_connect);
 
-    xcb_connection_t* c = orig::xcb_connect(displayname, screenp);
+    xcb_connection_t* c;
+    OWNCALL(c = orig::xcb_connect(displayname, screenp));
+
+    if (!c) {
+        debuglogstdio(LCF_WINDOW | LCF_ERROR, "Could not open xcb connection to %s (%d)", displayname ? displayname : "$DISPLAY", screenp ? *screenp : 0);
+        return nullptr;
+    }
 
     int i;
     for (i=0; i<GAMECONNECTIONNUM; i++) {
diff --git a/src/library/xlib/xdisplay.cpp b/src/library/xlib/xdisplay.cpp
index 2ed8039d..d61d9716 100644
--- a/src/library/xlib/xdisplay.cpp
+++ b/src/library/xlib/xdisplay.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "xatom.h"
 #include "XlibEventQueueList.h"
 #include "../global.h"
+#include "../GlobalState.h"
 
 namespace libtas {
 
@@ -38,7 +39,13 @@ Display *XOpenDisplay(const char *display_name)
     DEBUGLOGCALL(LCF_WINDOW);
     LINK_NAMESPACE_GLOBAL(XOpenDisplay);
 
-    Display* display = orig::XOpenDisplay(display_name);
+    Display* display;
+    OWNCALL(display = orig::XOpenDisplay(display_name));
+
+    if (!display) {
+        debuglogstdio(LCF_WINDOW | LCF_ERROR, "Could not open X connection to %s", display_name ? display_name : "$DISPLAY");
+        return nullptr;
+    }
 
     int i;
     for (i=0; i<GAMEDISPLAYNUM; i++) {