diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_processors/format_types/juce_AU_Shared.h b/modules/juce_audio_processors/format_types/juce_AU_Shared.h
index d6266244f9..1c2553cce2 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_processors/format_types/juce_AU_Shared.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_processors/format_types/juce_AU_Shared.h
@@ -366,21 +366,18 @@ struct AudioUnitHelpers
 
     static Array<AUChannelInfo> getAUChannelInfo (const AudioProcessor& processor)
     {
+       #if JucePlugin_IsMidiEffect
+        // A MIDI effect requires an output bus in order to determine the sample rate.
+        // No audio will be written to the output bus, so it can have any number of channels.
+        // No input bus is required.
+        return { AUChannelInfo { 0, -1 } };
+       #endif
+
         Array<AUChannelInfo> channelInfo;
 
         auto hasMainInputBus  = (AudioUnitHelpers::getBusCountForWrapper (processor, true)  > 0);
         auto hasMainOutputBus = (AudioUnitHelpers::getBusCountForWrapper (processor, false) > 0);
 
-        if ((! hasMainInputBus) && (! hasMainOutputBus))
-        {
-            // midi effect plug-in: no audio
-            AUChannelInfo info;
-            info.inChannels = 0;
-            info.outChannels = 0;
-
-            return { &info, 1 };
-        }
-
         auto layout = processor.getBusesLayout();
 
         // The 'standard' layout with the most channels defined is AudioChannelSet::create9point1point6().