diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 96becaa8..1c42c3c4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -229,7 +229,8 @@ If you select Pulseaudio, the "card" setting in the config file has no effect.
 Instead all soundcards detected by Pulseaudio will be listed as speakers by
 forked-daapd.
 
-There is some one-time setup required to use Pulseaudio: Add the forked-daapd
+There is some one-time setup required to use Pulseaudio: You must start
+Pulseaudio in system mode ("sudo pulseaudio --system") and add the forked-daapd
 user (probably "daapd") to the "pulse-access" group.
 
 
diff --git a/src/outputs/pulse.c b/src/outputs/pulse.c
index 3c5dbad9..9e3d0182 100644
--- a/src/outputs/pulse.c
+++ b/src/outputs/pulse.c
@@ -786,16 +786,6 @@ pulse_init(void)
   if (type && (strcasecmp(type, "pulseaudio") != 0))
     return -1;
 
-  // In some situations Pulseaudio won't autospawn, and we don't want to trouble
-  // the user with setting up system mode (which isn't recommended anyway), so
-  // we use this sledgehammer approach
-  ret = system("pulseaudio --start");
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      DPRINTF(E_LOG, L_LAUDIO, "Could not start Pulseaudio\n");
-      return -1;
-    }
-
   ret = 0;
 
   if (!(p->mainloop = pa_threaded_mainloop_new()))