diff --git a/include/sound/core.h b/include/sound/core.h
index 5bfe5136441c..c586617cfa0d 100644
--- a/include/sound/core.h
+++ b/include/sound/core.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 
 /* number of supported soundcards */
 #ifdef CONFIG_SND_DYNAMIC_MINORS
-#define SNDRV_CARDS 32
+#define SNDRV_CARDS CONFIG_SND_MAX_CARDS
 #else
 #define SNDRV_CARDS 8		/* don't change - minor numbers */
 #endif
diff --git a/sound/core/Kconfig b/sound/core/Kconfig
index b413ed05e74d..c0c2f57a0d6f 100644
--- a/sound/core/Kconfig
+++ b/sound/core/Kconfig
@@ -157,6 +157,15 @@ config SND_DYNAMIC_MINORS
 
 	  If you are unsure about this, say N here.
 
+config SND_MAX_CARDS
+	int "Max number of sound cards"
+	range 4 256
+	default 32
+	depends on SND_DYNAMIC_MINORS
+	help
+	  Specify the max number of sound cards that can be assigned
+	  on a single machine.
+
 config SND_SUPPORT_OLD_API
 	bool "Support old ALSA API"
 	default y
diff --git a/sound/core/init.c b/sound/core/init.c
index ed4a4811b6a1..6b9087115da2 100644
--- a/sound/core/init.c
+++ b/sound/core/init.c
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ static LIST_HEAD(shutdown_files);
 
 static const struct file_operations snd_shutdown_f_ops;
 
-static unsigned int snd_cards_lock;	/* locked for registering/using */
+/* locked for registering/using */
+static DECLARE_BITMAP(snd_cards_lock, SNDRV_CARDS);
 struct snd_card *snd_cards[SNDRV_CARDS];
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(snd_cards);
 
@@ -167,29 +168,35 @@ int snd_card_create(int idx, const char *xid,
 	err = 0;
 	mutex_lock(&snd_card_mutex);
 	if (idx < 0) {
-		for (idx2 = 0; idx2 < SNDRV_CARDS; idx2++)
+		for (idx2 = 0; idx2 < SNDRV_CARDS; idx2++) {
 			/* idx == -1 == 0xffff means: take any free slot */
-			if (~snd_cards_lock & idx & 1<<idx2) {
+			if (idx2 < sizeof(int) && !(idx & (1U << idx2)))
+				continue;
+			if (!test_bit(idx2, snd_cards_lock)) {
 				if (module_slot_match(module, idx2)) {
 					idx = idx2;
 					break;
 				}
 			}
+		}
 	}
 	if (idx < 0) {
-		for (idx2 = 0; idx2 < SNDRV_CARDS; idx2++)
+		for (idx2 = 0; idx2 < SNDRV_CARDS; idx2++) {
 			/* idx == -1 == 0xffff means: take any free slot */
-			if (~snd_cards_lock & idx & 1<<idx2) {
+			if (idx2 < sizeof(int) && !(idx & (1U << idx2)))
+				continue;
+			if (!test_bit(idx2, snd_cards_lock)) {
 				if (!slots[idx2] || !*slots[idx2]) {
 					idx = idx2;
 					break;
 				}
 			}
+		}
 	}
 	if (idx < 0)
 		err = -ENODEV;
 	else if (idx < snd_ecards_limit) {
-		if (snd_cards_lock & (1 << idx))
+		if (test_bit(idx, snd_cards_lock))
 			err = -EBUSY;	/* invalid */
 	} else if (idx >= SNDRV_CARDS)
 		err = -ENODEV;
@@ -199,7 +206,7 @@ int snd_card_create(int idx, const char *xid,
 			 idx, snd_ecards_limit - 1, err);
 		goto __error;
 	}
-	snd_cards_lock |= 1 << idx;		/* lock it */
+	set_bit(idx, snd_cards_lock);		/* lock it */
 	if (idx >= snd_ecards_limit)
 		snd_ecards_limit = idx + 1; /* increase the limit */
 	mutex_unlock(&snd_card_mutex);
@@ -249,7 +256,7 @@ int snd_card_locked(int card)
 	int locked;
 
 	mutex_lock(&snd_card_mutex);
-	locked = snd_cards_lock & (1 << card);
+	locked = test_bit(card, snd_cards_lock);
 	mutex_unlock(&snd_card_mutex);
 	return locked;
 }
@@ -361,7 +368,7 @@ int snd_card_disconnect(struct snd_card *card)
 	/* phase 1: disable fops (user space) operations for ALSA API */
 	mutex_lock(&snd_card_mutex);
 	snd_cards[card->number] = NULL;
-	snd_cards_lock &= ~(1 << card->number);
+	clear_bit(card->number, snd_cards_lock);
 	mutex_unlock(&snd_card_mutex);
 	
 	/* phase 2: replace file->f_op with special dummy operations */