diff --git a/src/common/audio/sound/i_sound.cpp b/src/common/audio/sound/i_sound.cpp
index 7a05b67dc..7d6acef96 100644
--- a/src/common/audio/sound/i_sound.cpp
+++ b/src/common/audio/sound/i_sound.cpp
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ CUSTOM_CVAR(Float, snd_mastervolume, 0.5f, CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG | CV
 // Maximum volume of a sound effect.
 //==========================================================================
 
-CUSTOM_CVAR (Float, snd_sfxvolume, 1.f, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG|CVAR_NOINITCALL)
+CUSTOM_CVAR (Float, snd_sfxvolume, 0.5f, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG|CVAR_NOINITCALL)
 {
 	if (self < 0.f)
 		self = 0.f;