diff --git a/discord/voice_client.py b/discord/voice_client.py
index 51178e3806..3ea63755b1 100644
--- a/discord/voice_client.py
+++ b/discord/voice_client.py
@@ -882,6 +882,8 @@ def send_audio_packet(self, data: bytes, *, encode: bool = True) -> None:
 
         self.checked_add("sequence", 1, 65535)
         if encode:
+            if not self.encoder:
+                self.encoder = opus.Encoder()
             encoded_data = self.encoder.encode(data, self.encoder.SAMPLES_PER_FRAME)
         else:
             encoded_data = data