diff --git a/client/src/Estuary/Render/RenderEngine.hs b/client/src/Estuary/Render/RenderEngine.hs
index 3d786c55..5af2d755 100644
--- a/client/src/Estuary/Render/RenderEngine.hs
+++ b/client/src/Estuary/Render/RenderEngine.hs
@@ -402,8 +402,6 @@ defineZoneExoLang r z (rName,txt,eTime) options = do
   let d = TextProgram (Live (rName,txt,eTime) L3)
   rEnv <- ask
   liftIO $ do 
-    n <- getAudioOutputs $ mainBus rEnv
-    (RenderEnvironment.setNchnls rEnv) n -- TODO: possibly other options need to be sent to renderer as well
     let okCb z' _ = do
                       RenderEnvironment.clearZoneError rEnv z'
                       RenderEnvironment.setBaseRenderer rEnv z' rName
diff --git a/client/src/Estuary/Render/RenderEnvironment.hs b/client/src/Estuary/Render/RenderEnvironment.hs
index e6cb4940..71be2163 100644
--- a/client/src/Estuary/Render/RenderEnvironment.hs
+++ b/client/src/Estuary/Render/RenderEnvironment.hs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ initialRenderEnvironment s t0System cvs = do
   audioInput' <- newIORef $ getPunctualInput mb
   aOut <- getMainBusInput mb
   audioOutput' <- newIORef aOut
-  nchnls' <- newIORef (numberOfOutputs aOut)
+  nchnls' <- newIORef 2
   putStrLn "finished initialRenderEnvironment"
   return $ RenderEnvironment {
     mainBus = mb,
diff --git a/client/src/Estuary/Widgets/Terminal.hs b/client/src/Estuary/Widgets/Terminal.hs
index 6589b2ef..538265e4 100644
--- a/client/src/Estuary/Widgets/Terminal.hs
+++ b/client/src/Estuary/Widgets/Terminal.hs
@@ -229,6 +229,7 @@ runCommand _ _ Terminal.MaxAudioOutputs = do
 -- attempt to set a specific number of audio output channels
 runCommand rEnv _ (Terminal.SetAudioOutputs n) = do
   liftIO $ setAudioOutputs (webDirt rEnv) (mainBus rEnv) n
+  setNchnls rEnv n
   n' <- liftAudioIO channelCount
   pure [ logText $ "audioOutputs = " <> showt n' ]