diff --git a/birdnet-pi/rootfs/etc/cont-init.d/31-checks.sh b/birdnet-pi/rootfs/etc/cont-init.d/31-checks.sh
index 188e0ba6c..71d8356e2 100755
--- a/birdnet-pi/rootfs/etc/cont-init.d/31-checks.sh
+++ b/birdnet-pi/rootfs/etc/cont-init.d/31-checks.sh
@@ -28,6 +28,20 @@ grep -o '^[^#=]*=' "$configtemplate" | sed 's/=//' | while read -r var; do
     fi
 done
 
+################
+# CHECK AMIXER #
+################
+
+# If default capture is set at 0%, increase it to 50%
+current_volume="$(amixer sget Capture | grep -oP '\[\d+%]' | tr -d '[]%' | head -1)" 2>/dev/null || true
+current_volume="{current_volume:-100}"
+
+# Set the default microphone volume to 50% if it's currently at 0%
+if [[ "$current_volume" -eq 0 ]]; then
+    amixer sset Capture 70%
+    bashio::log.warning "Microphone was off, volume set to 70%."
+fi
+
 ##############
 # CHECK PORT #
 ##############