diff --git a/src/cthulhu/sound_theme_manager.py b/src/cthulhu/sound_theme_manager.py
index f77f194..36941e0 100644
--- a/src/cthulhu/sound_theme_manager.py
+++ b/src/cthulhu/sound_theme_manager.py
@@ -215,16 +215,37 @@ class SoundThemeManager:
     def getSoundPath(self, themeName, soundName):
         """Get path to a specific sound file.
 
-        Checks for common audio file extensions: .wav, .ogg, .mp3, .flac
+        Checks for common audio file extensions: .wav, .ogg, .mp3, .flac.
+        User themes are checked first, then system themes as fallback so
+        partial user themes can inherit missing sounds.
         """
-        themePath = self.getThemePath(themeName)
-        if not themePath:
+        themePaths = []
+
+        userPath = os.path.join(self.getUserSoundsDir(), themeName)
+        if os.path.isdir(userPath):
+            themePaths.append(userPath)
+
+        systemPath = os.path.join(self.getSystemSoundsDir(), themeName)
+        if os.path.isdir(systemPath):
+            themePaths.append(systemPath)
+
+        fallbackDirs = [
+            '/usr/share/cthulhu/sounds',
+            '/usr/local/share/cthulhu/sounds',
+        ]
+        for fallbackDir in fallbackDirs:
+            fallbackPath = os.path.join(fallbackDir, themeName)
+            if os.path.isdir(fallbackPath) and fallbackPath not in themePaths:
+                themePaths.append(fallbackPath)
+
+        if not themePaths:
             return None
 
-        for ext in ['.wav', '.ogg', '.mp3', '.flac']:
-            soundPath = os.path.join(themePath, soundName + ext)
-            if os.path.isfile(soundPath):
-                return soundPath
+        for themePath in themePaths:
+            for ext in ['.wav', '.ogg', '.mp3', '.flac']:
+                soundPath = os.path.join(themePath, soundName + ext)
+                if os.path.isfile(soundPath):
+                    return soundPath
 
         return None
 
@@ -395,4 +416,3 @@ def getManager():
         from . import cthulhu
         _manager = SoundThemeManager(cthulhu.cthulhuApp)
     return _manager
-