diff --git a/portaudio.rkt b/portaudio.rkt
index 64dcff3..972d23b 100644
--- a/portaudio.rkt
+++ b/portaudio.rkt
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
 (define win-dll-path (build-path lib-path (system-library-subpath) "portaudio"))
 (define mac-dll-path (build-path lib-path "libportaudio"))
 
+(define linux-err-msg
+  "Note: on Linux, you need to install the libportaudio library yourself. Underlying error message: ~a")
+
 (define libportaudio
   (case (system-type)
     [(windows) (ffi-lib win-dll-path)]
@@ -25,9 +28,6 @@
                               (exn-message exn)))])
                  (ffi-lib "libportaudio" '("2.0.0" "")))]))
 
-(define linux-err-msg
-  "Note: on Linux, you need to install the libportaudio library yourself. Underlying error message: ~a")
-
 ;; wrap a function to signal an error when an error code is returned.
 ;; (any ... -> pa-error) -> (any ... -> )
 (define (pa-checked pa-fun name)