diff --git a/docs/docs/configuration/index.md b/docs/docs/configuration/index.md
index f23a32270..1f1d1b086 100644
--- a/docs/docs/configuration/index.md
+++ b/docs/docs/configuration/index.md
@@ -145,6 +145,12 @@ audio:
   enabled: False
   # Optional: Configure the amount of seconds without detected audio to end the event (default: shown below)
   max_not_heard: 30
+  # Optional: Configure the min rms volume required to run audio detection (default: shown below)
+  # As a rule of thumb:
+  #  - 200 - high sensitivity
+  #  - 500 - medium sensitivity
+  #  - 1000 - low sensitivity
+  min_volume: 500
   # Optional: Types of audio to listen for (default: shown below)
   listen:
     - bark
diff --git a/frigate/config.py b/frigate/config.py
index 9399320fe..4f789c3eb 100644
--- a/frigate/config.py
+++ b/frigate/config.py
@@ -393,6 +393,9 @@ class AudioConfig(FrigateBaseModel):
     max_not_heard: int = Field(
         default=30, title="Seconds of not hearing the type of audio to end the event."
     )
+    min_volume: int = Field(
+        default=500, title="Min volume required to run audio detection."
+    )
     listen: List[str] = Field(
         default=DEFAULT_LISTEN_AUDIO, title="Audio to listen for."
     )
diff --git a/frigate/events/audio.py b/frigate/events/audio.py
index de0f07e0c..898c4b893 100644
--- a/frigate/events/audio.py
+++ b/frigate/events/audio.py
@@ -169,14 +169,18 @@ class AudioEventMaintainer(threading.Thread):
         if not self.feature_metrics[self.config.name]["audio_enabled"].value:
             return
 
-        waveform = (audio / AUDIO_MAX_BIT_RANGE).astype(np.float32)
-        model_detections = self.detector.detect(waveform)
+        rms = np.sqrt(np.mean(np.absolute(audio.astype(np.float32)**2)))
 
-        for label, score, _ in model_detections:
-            if label not in self.config.audio.listen:
-                continue
+        # only run audio detection when volume is above min_volume
+        if rms >= self.config.audio.min_volume:
+            waveform = (audio / AUDIO_MAX_BIT_RANGE).astype(np.float32)
+            model_detections = self.detector.detect(waveform)
 
-            self.handle_detection(label, score)
+            for label, score, _ in model_detections:
+                if label not in self.config.audio.listen:
+                    continue
+
+                self.handle_detection(label, score)
 
         self.expire_detections()