diff --git a/src/room/GroupCallView.tsx b/src/room/GroupCallView.tsx
index 7de67cd8..2af6e314 100644
--- a/src/room/GroupCallView.tsx
+++ b/src/room/GroupCallView.tsx
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ export function GroupCallView({
           setUserChoices(choices);
           enter();
         }}
-        initWithMutedAudio={participants.size > 0}
+        initWithMutedAudio={participants.size > 8}
         isEmbedded={isEmbedded}
         hideHeader={hideHeader}
       />