diff --git a/alsaaudio.c b/alsaaudio.c
index d4d9747..dd990ae 100644
--- a/alsaaudio.c
+++ b/alsaaudio.c
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ typedef struct {
 	unsigned int channels;
 	unsigned int rate;
 	snd_pcm_format_t format;
+	unsigned int periods;
 	snd_pcm_uframes_t periodsize;
 	int framesize;
 
@@ -384,11 +385,10 @@ static int alsapcm_setup(alsapcm_t *self)
 								   self->channels);
 
 	dir = 0;
-	unsigned int periods = 4;
 	snd_pcm_hw_params_set_rate_near(self->handle, hwparams, &self->rate, &dir);
 	snd_pcm_hw_params_set_period_size_near(self->handle, hwparams,
 										   &self->periodsize, &dir);
-	snd_pcm_hw_params_set_periods_near(self->handle, hwparams, &periods, &dir);
+	snd_pcm_hw_params_set_periods_near(self->handle, hwparams, &self->periods, &dir);
 
 	/* Write it to the device */
 	res = snd_pcm_hw_params(self->handle, hwparams);
@@ -401,6 +401,7 @@ static int alsapcm_setup(alsapcm_t *self)
 	snd_pcm_hw_params_get_channels(hwparams, &self->channels);
 	snd_pcm_hw_params_get_rate(hwparams, &self->rate, &dir);
 	snd_pcm_hw_params_get_period_size(hwparams, &self->periodsize, &dir);
+	snd_pcm_hw_params_get_periods(hwparams, &self->periods, &dir);
 
 	self->framesize = self->channels * snd_pcm_hw_params_get_sbits(hwparams)/8;
 
@@ -422,13 +423,15 @@ alsapcm_new(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 	int rate = 44100;
 	int channels = 2;
 	int format = SND_PCM_FORMAT_S16_LE;
+	int periods = 4;
 	int periodsize = 32;
 
-	char *kw[] = { "type", "mode", "device", "cardindex", "card", "rate", "channels", "format", "periodsize", NULL };
+	char *kw[] = { "type", "mode", "device", "cardindex", "card",
+				   "rate", "channels", "format", "periodsize", "periods", NULL };
 
-	if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "|Oisiziiii", kw,
-									 &pcmtypeobj, &pcmmode, &device,
-									 &cardidx, &card, &rate, &channels, &format, &periodsize))
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwds, "|Oisiziiiii", kw,
+									 &pcmtypeobj, &pcmmode, &device, &cardidx, &card,
+									 &rate, &channels, &format, &periodsize, &periods))
 		return NULL;
 
 	if (cardidx >= 0) {
@@ -475,6 +478,7 @@ alsapcm_new(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwds)
 	self->channels = channels;
 	self->rate = rate;
 	self->format = format;
+	self->periods = periods;
 	self->periodsize = periodsize;
 
 	res = snd_pcm_open(&(self->handle), device, self->pcmtype,
@@ -586,7 +590,7 @@ alsapcm_dumpinfo(alsapcm_t *self, PyObject *args)
 	printf("buffer size = %d frames\n", (int)frames);
 
 	snd_pcm_hw_params_get_periods(hwparams, &val, &dir);
-	printf("periods per buffer = %d frames\n", val);
+	printf("periods per buffer = %d\n", val);
 
 	snd_pcm_hw_params_get_rate_numden(hwparams, &val, &val2);
 	printf("exact rate = %d/%d bps\n", val, val2);
@@ -760,7 +764,7 @@ alsapcm_info(alsapcm_t *self, PyObject *args)
 
 	snd_pcm_hw_params_get_periods(hwparams, &val, &dir);
 	value=PyLong_FromUnsignedLong((unsigned long) val);
-	PyDict_SetItemString(info,"get_periods", value);
+	PyDict_SetItemString(info,"periods", value);
 	Py_DECREF(value);
 
 	snd_pcm_hw_params_get_rate_numden(hwparams, &val, &val2);
diff --git a/doc/libalsaaudio.rst b/doc/libalsaaudio.rst
index bdd2768..fa54796 100644
--- a/doc/libalsaaudio.rst
+++ b/doc/libalsaaudio.rst
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ PCM objects in :mod:`alsaaudio` can play or capture (record) PCM
 sound through speakers or a microphone. The PCM constructor takes the
 following arguments:
 
-.. class:: PCM(type=PCM_PLAYBACK, mode=PCM_NORMAL, rate=44100, channels=2, format=PCM_FORMAT_S16_LE, periodsize=32, device='default', cardindex=-1)
+.. class:: PCM(type=PCM_PLAYBACK, mode=PCM_NORMAL, rate=44100, channels=2, format=PCM_FORMAT_S16_LE, periodsize=32, periods=4, device='default', cardindex=-1)
 
    This class is used to represent a PCM device (either for playback and
    recording). The arguments are:
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ following arguments:
      Make sure you understand :ref:`the meaning of periods <term-period>`.
      The default value is 32, which is below the actual minimum of most devices,
      and will therefore likely be larger in practice.
+   * *periods* - the number of periods in the buffer. The default value is 4.
    * *device* - the name of the PCM device that should be used (for example
      a value from the output of :func:`pcms`). The default value is
      ``'default'``.
@@ -158,6 +159,10 @@ following arguments:
 
    This will construct a PCM object with the given settings.
 
+   *Changed in 0.10:*
+
+   - Added the optional named parameter `periods`.
+
    *Changed in 0.9:*
 
    - Added the optional named parameters `rate`, `channels`, `format` and `periodsize`.