diff --git a/src/accessiclock/audio/player.py b/src/accessiclock/audio/player.py
index 816a429..43a8d1a 100644
--- a/src/accessiclock/audio/player.py
+++ b/src/accessiclock/audio/player.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 # Try to import sound_lib (cross-platform: Windows, macOS, Linux)
 try:
     from sound_lib import stream
-    from sound_lib.main import BASS_Free
 
     _use_sound_lib = True
     logger.debug("sound_lib available")
@@ -176,11 +175,7 @@ def cleanup(self) -> None:
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.warning(f"Error during AudioPlayer cleanup: {e}")
 
-        # Free BASS library resources
+        # Reset BASS initialization flag
         if _use_sound_lib and _bass_initialized:
-            try:
-                BASS_Free()
-                _bass_initialized = False
-                logger.info("BASS audio system freed")
-            except Exception as e:
-                logger.warning(f"Error freeing BASS audio system: {e}")
+            _bass_initialized = False
+            logger.info("BASS audio system cleanup complete")
diff --git a/tests/test_audio_player.py b/tests/test_audio_player.py
index 64d84f9..d11095b 100644
--- a/tests/test_audio_player.py
+++ b/tests/test_audio_player.py
@@ -515,68 +515,50 @@ def test_cleanup_stream_error_suppressed(self):
             player_module._use_sound_lib = original_use
             player_module._bass_initialized = original_init
 
-    def test_cleanup_frees_bass(self):
-        """cleanup should call BASS_Free when bass was initialized."""
+    def test_cleanup_resets_bass_flag(self):
+        """cleanup should reset _bass_initialized flag."""
         import accessiclock.audio.player as player_module
         from accessiclock.audio.player import AudioPlayer
 
         original_use = player_module._use_sound_lib
         original_init = player_module._bass_initialized
-        original_bass_free = getattr(player_module, "BASS_Free", None)
 
         try:
             player_module._use_sound_lib = True
             player_module._bass_initialized = True
 
-            mock_bass_free = MagicMock()
-            player_module.BASS_Free = mock_bass_free
-
             player = AudioPlayer.__new__(AudioPlayer)
             player._volume = 50
             player._current_stream = None
 
             player.cleanup()
 
-            mock_bass_free.assert_called_once()
             assert player_module._bass_initialized is False
         finally:
             player_module._use_sound_lib = original_use
             player_module._bass_initialized = original_init
-            if original_bass_free is not None:
-                player_module.BASS_Free = original_bass_free
-            elif hasattr(player_module, "BASS_Free"):
-                delattr(player_module, "BASS_Free")
 
-    def test_cleanup_bass_free_error_suppressed(self):
-        """cleanup should suppress BASS_Free errors."""
+    def test_cleanup_bass_not_initialized_skips_reset(self):
+        """cleanup should not reset flag when bass was not initialized."""
         import accessiclock.audio.player as player_module
         from accessiclock.audio.player import AudioPlayer
 
         original_use = player_module._use_sound_lib
         original_init = player_module._bass_initialized
-        original_bass_free = getattr(player_module, "BASS_Free", None)
 
         try:
             player_module._use_sound_lib = True
-            player_module._bass_initialized = True
-
-            mock_bass_free = MagicMock(side_effect=RuntimeError("bass error"))
-            player_module.BASS_Free = mock_bass_free
+            player_module._bass_initialized = False
 
             player = AudioPlayer.__new__(AudioPlayer)
             player._volume = 50
             player._current_stream = None
 
-            # Should not raise
             player.cleanup()
-            mock_bass_free.assert_called_once()
+            assert player_module._bass_initialized is False
         finally:
             player_module._use_sound_lib = original_use
             player_module._bass_initialized = original_init
-            if original_bass_free is not None:
-                player_module.BASS_Free = original_bass_free
-            elif hasattr(player_module, "BASS_Free"):
-                delattr(player_module, "BASS_Free")
 
 
 class TestSoundLibIntegration: