diff --git a/commands/voice.py b/commands/voice.py
index 852895b..2c92332 100644
--- a/commands/voice.py
+++ b/commands/voice.py
@@ -438,9 +438,15 @@ def play_next(message, once=False, first=False):
     message.guild.voice_client.stop()
     if message.guild.id in players and players[message.guild.id].queue:
         queued = players[message.guild.id].queue_pop()
-        message.guild.voice_client.play(
-            queued.player, after=lambda e: play_after_callback(e, message, once)
-        )
+        try:
+            message.guild.voice_client.play(
+                queued.player, after=lambda e: play_after_callback(e, message, once)
+            )
+        except disnake.opus.OpusNotLoaded:
+            utils.load_opus()
+            message.guild.voice_client.play(
+                queued.player, after=lambda e: play_after_callback(e, message, once)
+            )
         client.loop.create_task(
             utils.channel_send(message, queued.format(show_queuer=not first))
         )
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 3e9ca82..29096c5 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import os
+
 import disnake
 
 import constants
@@ -98,3 +100,16 @@ def filter_secrets(text: str) -> str:
             continue
         text = text.replace(secret, f"<{secret_name}>")
     return text
+
+
+def load_opus():
+    print("opus wasn't automatically loaded! trying to load manually...")
+    for path in ["/usr/lib64/libopus.so.0", "/usr/lib/libopus.so.0"]:
+        if os.path.exists(path):
+            try:
+                disnake.opus.load_opus(path)
+                print(f"successfully loaded opus from {path}")
+                return
+            except Exception as e:
+                print(f"failed to load opus from {path}: {e}")
+    raise Exception("could not locate working opus library")