Confusing error from libasound function snd_pcm_hw_params

Question

My question has to do with the libasound function named "snd_pcm_hw_params" in connection with code to play a sound file. I am new to ALSA programming. Using a coding example I found on the internet, I wrote a small program to play a 7 second .wav file to the default sound card. When I run this code several times in a row, occasionally (but not always) the requisite call to snd_pcm_hw_params to write the previously filled in snd_hw_params_t struct to the driver, I get back an error code of -2 (ENOENT). I have no idea what this means, nor how to handle nor prevent it. My code just emits an error message and bails. Usually, if I run it again, the code runs fine. Its fine for my use, but eventually, this code is supposed to be given to a non-programmer to use, and I'd like to either prevent the error, or resolve it internally without involving said non-programming user. I note hear that the user is supposed to be able to cause an early abort of the program by clicking a button, and when this happens, my code calls snd_pcm_drop, followed by snd_pcm_close. If the program runs to completion, and plays all 7 seconds of the wav file, then it finishes up by calling snd_pcm_drain, followed by snd_pcm_close. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :)