diff --git a/barnard.go b/barnard.go
index c5a4fe8..ece9aa2 100644
--- a/barnard.go
+++ b/barnard.go
@@ -28,8 +28,9 @@ type Barnard struct {
 	TLSConfig tls.Config
 
 	Stream    *gumbleopenal.Stream
-	Tx        bool
-	Connected bool
+	Tx           bool
+	AutoTransmit bool // auto-start transmission on connect
+	Connected    bool
 
 	Ui              *uiterm.Ui
 	UiOutput        uiterm.Textview
diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index f3732f0..f12c113 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -110,6 +110,18 @@ func (b *Barnard) OnConnect(e *gumble.ConnectEvent) {
 		b.AddOutputLine(fmt.Sprintf("Welcome message: %s", wmsg))
 	}
 	b.Ui.Refresh()
+
+	// Auto-start transmission if requested
+	if b.AutoTransmit && b.Stream != nil && !b.Tx {
+		err := b.Stream.StartSource(b.UserConfig.GetInputDevice())
+		if err != nil {
+			b.AddOutputLine(fmt.Sprintf("auto-transmit failed: %s", err.Error()))
+		} else {
+			b.Tx = true
+			b.UpdateGeneralStatus(" AutoTx ", true)
+			b.AddOutputLine("Auto-transmit started")
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func (b *Barnard) OnDisconnect(e *gumble.DisconnectEvent) {
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 8963dc5..164414b 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ func main() {
 	buffers := flag.Int("buffers", 16, "number of audio buffers to use")
 	profile := flag.Bool("profile", false, "add http server to serve profiles")
 	noiseSuppressionEnabled := flag.Bool("noise-suppression", false, "enable noise suppression for microphone input")
+	autoTransmit := flag.Bool("auto-transmit", false, "start transmitting immediately on connect")
 	logLevel := flag.String("log", "warn", "log level: debug, info, warn, error")
 	logFile := flag.String("logfile", "", "write logs to this file (in addition to stderr)")
 
@@ -208,6 +209,7 @@ func main() {
 		Config:          gumble.NewConfig(),
 		UserConfig:      userConfig,
 		Address:         *server,
+		AutoTransmit:    *autoTransmit,
 		MutedChannels:   make(map[uint32]bool),
 		NoiseSuppressor: noise.NewSuppressor(),
 	}