diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4a4766f0..e7419275 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ Stop all sounds and reset their seek position to the beginning.
 
 #### codecs(ext)
 Check supported audio codecs. Returns `true` if the codec is supported in the current browser.
-* **ext**: `String` File extension. One of: "mp3", "mpeg", "opus", "ogg", "oga", "wav", "aac", "caf", "m4a", "m4b", "mp4", "weba", "webm", "dolby", "flac".
+* **ext**: `String` File extension. One of: "m3u", "m3u8", "mp3", "mpeg", "opus", "ogg", "oga", "wav", "aac", "caf", "m4a", "m4b", "mp4", "weba", "webm", "dolby", "flac".
 
 #### unload()
 Unload and destroy all currently loaded Howl objects. This will immediately stop all sounds and remove them from cache.
diff --git a/src/howler.core.js b/src/howler.core.js
index aa60cdbe..7595cb96 100644
--- a/src/howler.core.js
+++ b/src/howler.core.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
       self.html5PoolSize = 10;
 
       // Internal properties.
-      self._codecs = {};
+      self._codecs = null;
       self._howls = [];
       self._muted = false;
       self._volume = 1;
@@ -187,11 +187,15 @@
 
     /**
      * Check for codec support of specific extension.
-     * @param  {String} ext Audio file extention.
-     * @return {Boolean}
+     * @param  {String} ext Audio file extension.
+     * @return {Boolean|undefined}
      */
     codecs: function(ext) {
-      return (this || Howler)._codecs[ext.replace(/^x-/, '')];
+      var self = this || Howler;
+
+      if (self._codecs) {
+        return self._codecs[ext.replace(/^x-/, '')];
+      }
     },
 
     /**
@@ -234,8 +238,8 @@
         }
       } catch (e) {}
 
-      // Check for supported codecs.
-      if (!self.noAudio) {
+      // Cache list of supported codecs once.
+      if (!self.noAudio && !self._codecs) {
         self._setupCodecs();
       }
 
@@ -262,6 +266,7 @@
       }
 
       var mpegTest = audioTest.canPlayType('audio/mpeg;').replace(/^no$/, '');
+      var hlsTest = audioTest.canPlayType('application/vnd.apple.mpegurl').replace(/^no$/, '');
 
       // Opera version <33 has mixed MP3 support, so we need to check for and block it.
       var ua = self._navigator ? self._navigator.userAgent : '';
@@ -272,6 +277,8 @@
       var isOldSafari = (checkSafari && safariVersion && parseInt(safariVersion[1], 10) < 15);
 
       self._codecs = {
+        m3u: !!hlsTest,
+        m3u8: !!hlsTest,
         mp3: !!(!isOldOpera && (mpegTest || audioTest.canPlayType('audio/mp3;').replace(/^no$/, ''))),
         mpeg: !!mpegTest,
         opus: !!audioTest.canPlayType('audio/ogg; codecs="opus"').replace(/^no$/, ''),
@@ -984,7 +991,7 @@
 
           var listener = function() {
             self._state = 'loaded';
-            
+
             // Begin playback.
             playHtml5();