diff --git a/pylib/anki/sound.py b/pylib/anki/sound.py
index 0d5f6d736..ca05a6c21 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/sound.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/sound.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ These can be accessed via eg card.question_av_tags()
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import re
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import List, Union
 
@@ -39,3 +40,9 @@ class SoundOrVideoTag:
 
 # note this does not include image tags, which are handled with HTML.
 AVTag = Union[SoundOrVideoTag, TTSTag]
+
+AV_REF_RE = re.compile(r"\[anki:(play:(.):(\d+))\]")
+
+
+def strip_av_refs(text: str) -> str:
+    return AV_REF_RE.sub("", text)
diff --git a/qt/aqt/main.py b/qt/aqt/main.py
index d8e9ff8cb..36041650d 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/main.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/main.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Sequence, Tuple
 
 from send2trash import send2trash
 
+import anki
 import aqt
 import aqt.mediasrv
 import aqt.mpv
@@ -405,7 +406,7 @@ close the profile or restart Anki."""
         if self.pm.profile.get("showPlayButtons", True):
             return aqt.sound.av_refs_to_play_icons(text)
         else:
-            return aqt.sound.strip_av_refs(text)
+            return anki.sound.strip_av_refs(text)
 
     def prepare_card_text_for_display(self, text: str) -> str:
         text = self.col.media.escapeImages(text)
diff --git a/qt/aqt/sound.py b/qt/aqt/sound.py
index 0a7d02e11..2e4fe5ae2 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/sound.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/sound.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import pyaudio
 import aqt
 from anki.cards import Card
 from anki.lang import _
-from anki.sound import AVTag, SoundOrVideoTag
+from anki.sound import AV_REF_RE, AVTag, SoundOrVideoTag
 from anki.utils import isLin, isMac, isWin
 from aqt import gui_hooks
 from aqt.mpv import MPV, MPVBase
@@ -580,12 +580,6 @@ for (k, v) in _exports:
 # Tag handling
 ##########################################################################
 
-AV_FLAG_RE = re.compile(r"\[anki:(play:.:\d+)\]")
-
-
-def strip_av_refs(text: str) -> str:
-    return AV_FLAG_RE.sub("", text)
-
 
 def av_refs_to_play_icons(text: str) -> str:
     """Add play icons into the HTML.
@@ -599,7 +593,7 @@ def av_refs_to_play_icons(text: str) -> str:
   <img class=playImage src='/_anki/imgs/play.png'>
 </a>"""
 
-    return AV_FLAG_RE.sub(repl, text)
+    return AV_REF_RE.sub(repl, text)
 
 
 def play_clicked_audio(pycmd: str, card: Card) -> None: