diff --git a/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/user/Preferences.java b/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/user/Preferences.java
index b57b5708..3f8a80f9 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/user/Preferences.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/user/Preferences.java
@@ -314,6 +314,12 @@ public final class Preferences implements PersistedDataHost, BridgeAddressProvid
                     });
         }
 
+        // enable sounds by default for existing clients (protobuf does not express that new field is unset)
+        if (!prefPayload.isUseSoundForNotificationsInitialized()) {
+            prefPayload.setUseSoundForNotificationsInitialized(true);
+            setUseSoundForNotifications(true);
+        }
+
         initialReadDone = true;
         requestPersistence();
     }
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/user/PreferencesPayload.java b/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/user/PreferencesPayload.java
index 5484c514..e45f1282 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/user/PreferencesPayload.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/user/PreferencesPayload.java
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ public final class PreferencesPayload implements PersistableEnvelope {
     private boolean usePriceNotifications = true;
     private boolean useStandbyMode = false;
     private boolean useSoundForNotifications = true;
+    private boolean useSoundForNotificationsInitialized = false;
     @Nullable
     private String rpcUser;
     @Nullable
@@ -187,6 +188,7 @@ public final class PreferencesPayload implements PersistableEnvelope {
                 .setUsePriceNotifications(usePriceNotifications)
                 .setUseStandbyMode(useStandbyMode)
                 .setUseSoundForNotifications(useSoundForNotifications)
+                .setUseSoundForNotificationsInitialized(useSoundForNotificationsInitialized)
                 .setBuyerSecurityDepositAsPercent(buyerSecurityDepositAsPercent)
                 .setIgnoreDustThreshold(ignoreDustThreshold)
                 .setClearDataAfterDays(clearDataAfterDays)
@@ -283,6 +285,7 @@ public final class PreferencesPayload implements PersistableEnvelope {
                 proto.getUsePriceNotifications(),
                 proto.getUseStandbyMode(),
                 proto.getUseSoundForNotifications(),
+                proto.getUseSoundForNotificationsInitialized(),
                 proto.getRpcUser().isEmpty() ? null : proto.getRpcUser(),
                 proto.getRpcPw().isEmpty() ? null : proto.getRpcPw(),
                 proto.getTakeOfferSelectedPaymentAccountId().isEmpty() ? null : proto.getTakeOfferSelectedPaymentAccountId(),
diff --git a/proto/src/main/proto/pb.proto b/proto/src/main/proto/pb.proto
index f63e82a1..00b44736 100644
--- a/proto/src/main/proto/pb.proto
+++ b/proto/src/main/proto/pb.proto
@@ -1741,6 +1741,7 @@ message PreferencesPayload {
     string sell_screen_crypto_currency_code = 61;
     bool split_offer_output = 62;
     bool use_sound_for_notifications = 63;
+    bool use_sound_for_notifications_initialized = 64;
 }
 
 message AutoConfirmSettings {