diff --git a/postplug.d/35sound b/postplug.d/35sound
index f5bf9d4..1772b52 100644
--- a/postplug.d/35sound
+++ b/postplug.d/35sound
@@ -93,7 +93,11 @@ if [ "$SOUND_FORCE_RESCAN" != "on" -a "$SOUND_FORCE_RESCAN" != "1" ]; then
    fi
 fi
 
-echo "$SOUND_DEV" > $postpluglibdir/sound.cache
+# WORKAROUND: custom softvol controls are not actived until a play/rec is done
+#             this also triggers kmix crash problem at first boot
+aplay -q -d1 < /dev/zero
+arecord -q -d1 > /dev/null
+
 for c in /proc/asound/card[0-9]*; do
    id=`cat $c/id`
    codec=`grep Codec: $c/codec* 2>/dev/null | head -n1`
@@ -104,9 +108,7 @@ done
 
 if [ -x /usr/sbin/alsactl ]; then
    logmsg "$me" $"saving the mixer setup (/var/lib/sound/asound.state)"
-   /usr/sbin/alsactl store >/dev/null
+   /usr/sbin/alsactl store > /dev/null
 fi
-
 echo "$SOUND_DEV" > $postpluglibdir/sound.cache
-
 exit 0