diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index 9a03da1..0b43ac0 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ func (b *Barnard) connect(reconnect bool) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 	b.Stream = stream
+	b.Stream.SetMicVolume(b.UserConfig.GetMicVolume(), false)
 	b.Stream.AttachStream(b.Client)
 	b.Stream.SetNoiseProcessor(b.NoiseSuppressor)
 	b.Stream.SetAGCEnabled(b.UserConfig.GetAGCEnabled())
diff --git a/config/user_config.go b/config/user_config.go
index dd21265..529dea2 100644
--- a/config/user_config.go
+++ b/config/user_config.go
@@ -316,6 +316,15 @@ func (c *Config) SetMicVolume(v float32) {
 	c.config.MicVolume = &t
 }
 
+func (c *Config) GetMicVolume() float32 {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	if c.config.MicVolume == nil {
+		return 1.0
+	}
+	return *c.config.MicVolume
+}
+
 func (c *Config) GetHotkeys() *Hotkeys {
 	return c.config.Hotkeys
 }
diff --git a/config/user_config_test.go b/config/user_config_test.go
index f37b3cf..0be9623 100644
--- a/config/user_config_test.go
+++ b/config/user_config_test.go
@@ -115,6 +115,18 @@ func TestMakeHostPortHandlesIPv6AndMalformedAddress(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("got %q:%d", host, port)
 	}
 }
+
+// Regression: a stored zero mic volume was treated as an uninitialized value,
+// so a persisted mute became full volume after reconnecting.
+func TestMicVolumeAllowsPersistedMute(t *testing.T) {
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "barnard.toml")
+	cfg := NewConfig(&path)
+	cfg.SetMicVolume(0)
+	if got := cfg.GetMicVolume(); got != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("got %v, want mute", got)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestConfigUsesHomeEnvironmentForDefaultPath(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	t.Setenv("HOME", dir)
diff --git a/ui.go b/ui.go
index 21f9ae3..5afe6ca 100644
--- a/ui.go
+++ b/ui.go
@@ -338,11 +338,17 @@ func (b *Barnard) setTransmit(ui *uiterm.Ui, val int) {
 func (b *Barnard) OnMicVolumeDown(ui *uiterm.Ui, key uiterm.Key) {
 	b.Stream.SetMicVolume(-0.1, true)
 	b.UserConfig.SetMicVolume(b.Stream.GetMicVolume())
+	if err := b.UserConfig.SaveConfig(); err != nil {
+		b.AddOutputLine("Microphone: could not save volume: " + err.Error())
+	}
 }
 
 func (b *Barnard) OnMicVolumeUp(ui *uiterm.Ui, key uiterm.Key) {
 	b.Stream.SetMicVolume(0.1, true)
 	b.UserConfig.SetMicVolume(b.Stream.GetMicVolume())
+	if err := b.UserConfig.SaveConfig(); err != nil {
+		b.AddOutputLine("Microphone: could not save volume: " + err.Error())
+	}
 }
 
 func (b *Barnard) OnQuitPress(ui *uiterm.Ui, key uiterm.Key) {