diff --git a/src/volume.rs b/src/volume.rs
index 2e1b793..94e0f69 100644
--- a/src/volume.rs
+++ b/src/volume.rs
@@ -65,18 +65,27 @@ fn query_volume() -> Option<u8> {
     parse_volume(&String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stdout))
 }
 
-/// Parse the first percentage value from pactl output such as:
+/// Parse the average percentage across all channels from pactl output such as:
 /// `"Volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,  front-right: 65536 / 100% ..."`
+///
+/// Averaging across channels matches what OS volume sliders display and avoids
+/// a misleading reading when channels are unbalanced (e.g. hard-panned mono).
 fn parse_volume(s: &str) -> Option<u8> {
-    for part in s.split('/') {
-        let trimmed = part.trim();
-        if let Some(stripped) = trimmed.strip_suffix('%') {
-            if let Ok(n) = stripped.trim().parse::<u8>() {
-                return Some(n);
-            }
-        }
+    let levels: Vec<u32> = s
+        .split('/')
+        .filter_map(|part| {
+            part.trim()
+                .strip_suffix('%')
+                .and_then(|n| n.trim().parse::<u32>().ok())
+        })
+        .collect();
+
+    if levels.is_empty() {
+        return None;
     }
-    None
+
+    let avg = levels.iter().sum::<u32>() / levels.len() as u32;
+    Some(avg.min(100) as u8)
 }
 
 fn broadcast(pkt: Packet, keyboards: &[Keyboard]) {
@@ -99,17 +108,24 @@ mod tests {
     use super::parse_volume;
 
     #[test]
-    fn parses_stereo_output() {
+    fn parses_stereo_equal() {
         let s = "Volume: front-left: 65536 /  100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 /  100% / 0.00 dB";
         assert_eq!(parse_volume(s), Some(100));
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn parses_partial_volume() {
+    fn parses_stereo_equal_partial() {
         let s = "Volume: front-left: 45875 /   70% / -9.03 dB,   front-right: 45875 /   70% / -9.03 dB";
         assert_eq!(parse_volume(s), Some(70));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn averages_unbalanced_channels() {
+        // left=80%, right=20% → average=50%
+        let s = "Volume: front-left: 52429 /   80% / -5.08 dB,   front-right: 13107 /   20% / -13.98 dB";
+        assert_eq!(parse_volume(s), Some(50));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn returns_none_for_garbage() {
         assert_eq!(parse_volume("no percentage here"), None);