diff --git a/include/baresip.h b/include/baresip.h
index 29ef25810f..0eaf502fd1 100644
--- a/include/baresip.h
+++ b/include/baresip.h
@@ -1384,6 +1384,7 @@ uint64_t audio_jb_current_value(const struct audio *au);
 int  audio_set_bitrate(struct audio *au, uint32_t bitrate);
 bool audio_rxaubuf_started(const struct audio *au);
 int  audio_update(struct audio *a);
+int  audio_start(struct audio *a);
 int  audio_start_source(struct audio *a, struct list *ausrcl,
 			struct list *aufiltl);
 void audio_stop(struct audio *a);
diff --git a/src/audio.c b/src/audio.c
index e4b0703e16..5bffc765b9 100644
--- a/src/audio.c
+++ b/src/audio.c
@@ -1228,6 +1228,22 @@ int audio_update(struct audio *a)
 }
 
 
+/**
+ * This function simply calls audio_update() and kept for backward
+ * compatibility
+ *
+ * @param a Audio object
+ *
+ * @return 0 if success, otherwise errorcode
+ *
+ * @deprecated Use audio_update() instead
+ */
+int audio_start(struct audio *a)
+{
+	return audio_update(a);
+}
+
+
 /**
  * Start the audio source
  *