diff --git a/src/audio.cpp b/src/audio.cpp
index 94670bf..482d094 100644
--- a/src/audio.cpp
+++ b/src/audio.cpp
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@
 #include "player.h"
 #include "wifi.h"
 
-bool audioMute = false;
+bool audioMute = true;
 
-bool audioMute2 = true;
+bool audioMute2 = true; // keep last applied mute state because we cannot retrieve it from library
 
 float audioVolume = 0.1;
 
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ void audioSetup() {
   AudioToolsLogger.setLogLevel(AudioToolsLogLevel::Error);
   Serial.println("[AUDIO    ] Initializing board...");
   board.begin();
+  audioMute2 = !audioMute;
 }
 
 bool audioLoop() {