diff --git a/src/lib/notifications/soundPlayer.ts b/src/lib/notifications/soundPlayer.ts
index 8157a80..455acca 100644
--- a/src/lib/notifications/soundPlayer.ts
+++ b/src/lib/notifications/soundPlayer.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { NOTIFICATION_SOUNDS, type NotificationType } from "./types";
 
 class SoundPlayer {
   private audioCache: Map<NotificationType, HTMLAudioElement> = new Map();
-  private enabled: boolean = true;
+  private enabled: boolean = false; // Start disabled until config loads
   private globalVolume: number = 1.0;
 
   constructor() {
diff --git a/src/lib/stores/notifications.ts b/src/lib/stores/notifications.ts
index c001417..64f3599 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/notifications.ts
+++ b/src/lib/stores/notifications.ts
@@ -1,22 +1,23 @@
-import { derived } from "svelte/store";
 import { configStore } from "./config";
 import { soundPlayer } from "$lib/notifications";
 
-// Sync notification settings with config
-export const notificationSettings = derived(configStore.config, ($config) => {
-  soundPlayer.setEnabled($config.notifications_enabled);
-  soundPlayer.setGlobalVolume($config.notification_volume);
+let unsubscribe: (() => void) | null = null;
 
-  return {
-    enabled: $config.notifications_enabled,
-    volume: $config.notification_volume,
-  };
-});
+// Initialize notification settings sync - call this once on app startup
+export function initNotificationSync() {
+  // Prevent duplicate subscriptions
+  if (unsubscribe) return;
 
-// Helper to update notification settings
-export async function updateNotificationSettings(enabled: boolean, volume: number) {
-  await configStore.updateConfig({
-    notifications_enabled: enabled,
-    notification_volume: volume,
+  unsubscribe = configStore.config.subscribe(($config) => {
+    soundPlayer.setEnabled($config.notifications_enabled);
+    soundPlayer.setGlobalVolume($config.notification_volume);
   });
 }
+
+// Cleanup function if needed
+export function cleanupNotificationSync() {
+  if (unsubscribe) {
+    unsubscribe();
+    unsubscribe = null;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/routes/+page.svelte b/src/routes/+page.svelte
index c9d47eb..195de40 100644
--- a/src/routes/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+page.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   import { onMount, onDestroy } from "svelte";
   import { initializeTauriListeners, cleanupTauriListeners } from "$lib/tauri";
   import { configStore, applyTheme } from "$lib/stores/config";
+  import { initNotificationSync, cleanupNotificationSync } from "$lib/stores/notifications";
   import { conversationsStore } from "$lib/stores/conversations";
   import "$lib/notifications/testNotifications";
   import Terminal from "$lib/components/Terminal.svelte";
@@ -29,12 +30,16 @@
       // Apply saved theme on startup
       const config = configStore.getConfig();
       applyTheme(config.theme);
+
+      // Initialize notification settings sync
+      initNotificationSync();
     }
   });
 
   onDestroy(() => {
     if (initialized) {
       cleanupTauriListeners();
+      cleanupNotificationSync();
       initialized = false;
     }
   });