diff --git a/libxfce4mixer/libxfce4mixer.c b/libxfce4mixer/libxfce4mixer.c
index 69746c0..9fe79c4 100644
--- a/libxfce4mixer/libxfce4mixer.c
+++ b/libxfce4mixer/libxfce4mixer.c
@@ -127,6 +127,26 @@ xfce_mixer_get_card (const gchar *name)
 
 
 
+GstElement *
+xfce_mixer_get_default_card (void)
+{
+  GstElement *element = NULL;
+  GList      *iter;
+  gchar      *card_name;
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail (refcount > 0, NULL);
+
+  iter = g_list_first (mixers);
+
+  if (iter) {
+    element = iter->data;
+  }
+
+  return element;
+}
+
+
+
 const gchar *
 xfce_mixer_get_card_display_name (GstElement *card)
 {
diff --git a/libxfce4mixer/libxfce4mixer.h b/libxfce4mixer/libxfce4mixer.h
index e19b463..7b47fae 100644
--- a/libxfce4mixer/libxfce4mixer.h
+++ b/libxfce4mixer/libxfce4mixer.h
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ void           xfce_mixer_shutdown               (void);
 
 GList         *xfce_mixer_get_cards              (void);
 GstElement    *xfce_mixer_get_card               (const gchar   *name);
+GstElement    *xfce_mixer_get_default_card       (void);
 const gchar   *xfce_mixer_get_card_internal_name (GstElement    *card);
 const gchar   *xfce_mixer_get_card_display_name  (GstElement    *card);
 void           xfce_mixer_select_card            (GstElement    *card);
diff --git a/panel-plugin/xfce-mixer-plugin.c b/panel-plugin/xfce-mixer-plugin.c
index af26ba2..4bc7797 100644
--- a/panel-plugin/xfce-mixer-plugin.c
+++ b/panel-plugin/xfce-mixer-plugin.c
@@ -191,6 +191,8 @@ static void
 xfce_mixer_plugin_construct (XfcePanelPlugin *plugin)
 {
   XfceMixerPlugin *mixer_plugin;
+  GstElement    *card = NULL;
+  GstMixerTrack *track = NULL;
 
   /* Set up translation domain */
   xfce_textdomain (GETTEXT_PACKAGE, PACKAGE_LOCALE_DIR, "UTF-8");
@@ -218,6 +220,20 @@ xfce_mixer_plugin_construct (XfcePanelPlugin *plugin)
   /* Read config file */
   xfce_mixer_plugin_read_config (mixer_plugin);
 
+  /* If no device or mixer channel are configured
+   * try to provide sensible defaults. */
+  if (!mixer_plugin->card)
+    {
+      card = xfce_mixer_get_default_card();
+      xfce_mixer_plugin_set_card (mixer_plugin, card);
+    }
+
+  if (!mixer_plugin->track)
+    {
+      track = xfce_mixer_get_track (card, "Master");
+      xfce_mixer_plugin_set_track (mixer_plugin, track);
+    }
+
   /* Update the plugin if it was already set up */
   if (G_LIKELY (GST_IS_MIXER (mixer_plugin->card) && GST_IS_MIXER_TRACK (mixer_plugin->track)))
     xfce_mixer_plugin_update_track (mixer_plugin);