diff --git a/src/settings.rs b/src/settings.rs
index ad74109..231feb8 100644
--- a/src/settings.rs
+++ b/src/settings.rs
@@ -36,9 +36,13 @@ pub struct Settings {
 
 impl Default for Settings {
     fn default() -> Self {
+        // Mute audio by default in debug builds
+        let default_mute_sfx = cfg!(debug_assertions);
+        let default_mute_music = cfg!(debug_assertions);
+
         Settings {
-            mute_sfx: false,
-            mute_music: false,
+            mute_sfx: default_mute_sfx,
+            mute_music: default_mute_music,
             volume_sfx: 100,
             volume_music: 100,
             font_size_hud: 32.0,