diff --git a/kitsune/i2c_cmd.c b/kitsune/i2c_cmd.c
index 83a7b254..65b119b0 100644
--- a/kitsune/i2c_cmd.c
+++ b/kitsune/i2c_cmd.c
@@ -894,7 +894,9 @@ volatile int sys_volume = 64;
 
 #define VOL_LOC "/hello/vol"
 int get_system_volume() {
-	 return fs_get(VOL_LOC, &sys_volume, sizeof(sys_volume), NULL);
+	 if( fs_get(VOL_LOC, &sys_volume, sizeof(sys_volume), NULL) < 0 ) {
+		 sys_volume = 64;
+	 }
 }
 int32_t set_system_volume(int new_volume) {
 	if( new_volume != sys_volume ) {