diff --git a/DOCS/interface-changes.rst b/DOCS/interface-changes.rst
index 5bc798bd38..3ccaef84b8 100644
--- a/DOCS/interface-changes.rst
+++ b/DOCS/interface-changes.rst
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ Interface changes
 ::
 
  --- mpv 0.38.0 ---
+    - add `--ao-volume` option
+    - change `ao-volume` property to read only property `current-ao-volume`
     - add `--volume-gain`, `--volume-gain-min`, and `--volume-gain-max` options
     - add `current-gpu-context` property
     - add `--secondary-sub-ass-override` option
diff --git a/DOCS/man/input.rst b/DOCS/man/input.rst
index 0479cf9830..6ac9fb2bd5 100644
--- a/DOCS/man/input.rst
+++ b/DOCS/man/input.rst
@@ -2329,16 +2329,15 @@ Property list
     This option is relatively useless. Before mpv 0.18.1, it could be used to
     infer behavior of the ``volume`` property.
 
-``ao-volume`` (RW)
+``current-ao-volume``
     System volume. This property is available only if mpv audio output is
     currently active, and only if the underlying implementation supports volume
-    control. What this option does depends on the API. For example, on ALSA
-    this usually changes system-wide audio, while with PulseAudio this controls
-    per-application volume.
+    control. What this option shows depends on the API. For example, on ALSA
+    this usually shows system-wide audio, while on PulseAudio per-application volume.
 
 ``ao-mute`` (RW)
-    Similar to ``ao-volume``, but controls the mute state. May be unimplemented
-    even if ``ao-volume`` works.
+    Similar to ``current-ao-volume``, but controls the mute state. May be unimplemented
+    even if ``current-ao-volume`` works.
 
 ``audio-codec``
     Audio codec selected for decoding.
diff --git a/DOCS/man/options.rst b/DOCS/man/options.rst
index 32e69af7e5..cf65957850 100644
--- a/DOCS/man/options.rst
+++ b/DOCS/man/options.rst
@@ -1996,6 +1996,13 @@ Audio
 
     Since mpv 0.18.1, this always controls the internal mixer (aka "softvol").
 
+``--ao-volume=<value>``
+    Set the startup system volume. This option works only if mpv audio
+    output is currently active, and the underlying implementation supports
+    volume control. What this option does depends on the API. For example, on
+    ALSA this usually changes system-wide audio, while with PulseAudio this
+    controls per-application volume. Negative values will be ignored.
+
 ``--volume-max=<100.0-1000.0>``
     Set the maximum amplification level in percent (default: 130). A value of
     130 will allow you to adjust the volume up to about double the normal level.
diff --git a/options/options.c b/options/options.c
index 7d1babc749..c380bce808 100644
--- a/options/options.c
+++ b/options/options.c
@@ -707,6 +707,7 @@ static const m_option_t mp_opts[] = {
     // values <0 for volume and mute are legacy and ignored
     {"volume", OPT_FLOAT(softvol_volume), .flags = UPDATE_VOL,
         M_RANGE(-1, 1000)},
+    {"ao-volume", OPT_FLOAT(ao_volume), M_RANGE(-1, 100)},
     {"volume-gain-max", OPT_FLOAT(softvol_gain_max), M_RANGE(0, 150)},
     {"volume-gain-min", OPT_FLOAT(softvol_gain_min), M_RANGE(-150, 0)},
     {"volume-gain", OPT_FLOAT(softvol_gain), .flags = UPDATE_VOL,
@@ -934,6 +935,7 @@ static const struct MPOpts mp_default_opts = {
     .msg_color = true,
     .softvol_max = 130,
     .softvol_volume = 100,
+    .ao_volume = -1,
     .softvol_gain_max = 12,
     .softvol_gain_min = -96,
     .softvol_gain = 0,
diff --git a/options/options.h b/options/options.h
index 9dce3f609c..d9f1f99d1b 100644
--- a/options/options.h
+++ b/options/options.h
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ typedef struct MPOpts {
     float audio_wait_open;
     int force_vo;
     float softvol_volume;
+    float ao_volume;
     int rgain_mode;
     float rgain_preamp;         // Set replaygain pre-amplification
     bool rgain_clip;             // Enable/disable clipping prevention
diff --git a/player/audio.c b/player/audio.c
index 344fbdb744..c697142012 100644
--- a/player/audio.c
+++ b/player/audio.c
@@ -182,6 +182,19 @@ void audio_update_volume(struct MPContext *mpctx)
     ao_set_gain(ao_c->ao, gain);
 }
 
+// Called when opts->ao_volume were changed.
+void audio_update_ao_volume(struct MPContext *mpctx)
+{
+    struct MPOpts *opts = mpctx->opts;
+    struct ao *ao = mpctx->ao;
+    float vol = opts->ao_volume;
+    if (!ao || vol < 0)
+        return;
+
+    ao_control(ao, AOCONTROL_SET_VOLUME, &vol);
+}
+
+
 // Call this if opts->playback_speed or mpctx->speed_factor_* change.
 void update_playback_speed(struct MPContext *mpctx)
 {
@@ -335,6 +348,7 @@ static void ao_chain_set_ao(struct ao_chain *ao_c, struct ao *ao)
         // Make sure filtering never stops with frames stuck in access filter.
         mp_filter_set_high_priority(ao_c->queue_filter, true);
         audio_update_volume(ao_c->mpctx);
+        audio_update_ao_volume(ao_c->mpctx);
     }
 
     if (ao_c->filter->ao_needs_update)
@@ -593,8 +607,10 @@ void reinit_audio_chain_src(struct MPContext *mpctx, struct track *track)
     if (recreate_audio_filters(mpctx) < 0)
         goto init_error;
 
-    if (mpctx->ao)
+    if (mpctx->ao) {
         audio_update_volume(mpctx);
+        audio_update_ao_volume(mpctx);
+    }
 
     mp_wakeup_core(mpctx);
     return;
diff --git a/player/command.c b/player/command.c
index a286dc2d4a..3eecdd3915 100644
--- a/player/command.c
+++ b/player/command.c
@@ -1669,12 +1669,6 @@ static int mp_property_ao_volume(void *ctx, struct m_property *prop,
         return M_PROPERTY_NOT_IMPLEMENTED;
 
     switch (action) {
-    case M_PROPERTY_SET: {
-        float vol = *(float *)arg;
-        if (ao_control(ao, AOCONTROL_SET_VOLUME, &vol) != CONTROL_OK)
-            return M_PROPERTY_UNAVAILABLE;
-        return M_PROPERTY_OK;
-    }
     case M_PROPERTY_GET: {
         if (ao_control(ao, AOCONTROL_GET_VOLUME, arg) != CONTROL_OK)
             return M_PROPERTY_UNAVAILABLE;
@@ -3935,7 +3929,7 @@ static const struct m_property mp_properties_base[] = {
     {"mixer-active", mp_property_mixer_active},
     {"volume", mp_property_volume},
     {"volume-gain", mp_property_volume_gain},
-    {"ao-volume", mp_property_ao_volume},
+    {"current-ao-volume", mp_property_ao_volume},
     {"ao-mute", mp_property_ao_mute},
     {"audio-delay", mp_property_audio_delay},
     {"audio-codec-name", mp_property_audio_codec_name},
@@ -4286,8 +4280,8 @@ static const struct property_osd_display {
     {"volume-gain", "Volume gain",
      .msg = "Volume gain: ${?volume-gain:${volume-gain} dB ${?mute==yes:(Muted)}}${!volume-gain:${volume-gain}}",
      .osd_progbar = OSD_VOLUME, .marker = 0},
-    {"ao-volume", "AO Volume",
-     .msg = "AO Volume: ${?ao-volume:${ao-volume}% ${?ao-mute==yes:(Muted)}}${!ao-volume:${ao-volume}}",
+    {"current-ao-volume", "AO Volume",
+     .msg = "AO Volume: ${?current-ao-volume:${current-ao-volume}% ${?ao-mute==yes:(Muted)}}${!current-ao-volume:${currene-ao-volume}}",
      .osd_progbar = OSD_VOLUME, .marker = 100},
     {"mute", "Mute"},
     {"ao-mute", "AO Mute"},
@@ -7198,6 +7192,9 @@ void mp_option_change_callback(void *ctx, struct m_config_option *co, int flags,
         mp_wakeup_core(mpctx);
     }
 
+    if (opt_ptr == &opts->ao_volume)
+        audio_update_ao_volume(mpctx);
+
     if (flags & UPDATE_HWDEC) {
         struct track *track = mpctx->current_track[0][STREAM_VIDEO];
         struct mp_decoder_wrapper *dec = track ? track->dec : NULL;
diff --git a/player/core.h b/player/core.h
index d995a88366..2fc3c45700 100644
--- a/player/core.h
+++ b/player/core.h
@@ -487,6 +487,7 @@ void uninit_audio_out(struct MPContext *mpctx);
 void uninit_audio_chain(struct MPContext *mpctx);
 void reinit_audio_chain_src(struct MPContext *mpctx, struct track *track);
 void audio_update_volume(struct MPContext *mpctx);
+void audio_update_ao_volume(struct MPContext *mpctx);
 void reload_audio_output(struct MPContext *mpctx);
 void audio_start_ao(struct MPContext *mpctx);