diff --git a/secrets.lua b/secrets.lua
index 19f35b8..7d0f773 100644
--- a/secrets.lua
+++ b/secrets.lua
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@
 --------------------------------------------
 
 local secrets = {
+    -- See volume-widget/README.md
+    volume_audio_controller = os.getenv('AWW_VOLUME_CONTROLLER') or 'pulse', -- 'pulse' or 'alsa_only'
+
     -- Yandex.Translate API key - https://tech.yandex.com/translate/
     translate_widget_api_key = os.getenv('AWW_TRANSLATE_API_KEY') or 'API_KEY',
 
diff --git a/volume-widget/README.md b/volume-widget/README.md
index 118abc6..494be24 100644
--- a/volume-widget/README.md
+++ b/volume-widget/README.md
@@ -31,6 +31,31 @@ s.mytasklist, -- Middle widget
  sudo sed -i 's/bebebe/ed4737/g' ./audio-volume-muted-symbolic_red.svg 
  ```
 
+### Pulse or ALSA only
+
+Try running this command:
+
+```amixer -D pulse sget Master```
+
+If that prints something like this, then the default setting of 'pulse' is probably fine:
+```
+Simple mixer control 'Master',0
+  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
+  Playback channels: Mono
+  Limits: Playback 0 - 64
+  Mono: Playback 64 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
+
+```
+
+If it prints something like this:
+```
+$ amixer -D pulse sget Master
+ALSA lib pulse.c:243:(pulse_connect) PulseAudio: Unable to connect: Connection refused
+
+amixer: Mixer attach pulse error: Connection refused
+```
+then try setting the environment variable `AWW_VOLUME_CONTROLLER` to `alsa_only`.
+
 ## Control volume
 
 To mute/unmute click on the widget. To increase/decrease volume scroll up or down when mouse cursor is over the widget.
diff --git a/volume-widget/volume.lua b/volume-widget/volume.lua
index 8124bcf..fe7ff2c 100644
--- a/volume-widget/volume.lua
+++ b/volume-widget/volume.lua
@@ -13,12 +13,22 @@ local wibox = require("wibox")
 local watch = require("awful.widget.watch")
 local spawn = require("awful.spawn")
 
+local secrets = require("awesome-wm-widgets.secrets")
+
 local path_to_icons = "/usr/share/icons/Arc/status/symbolic/"
 
-local GET_VOLUME_CMD = 'amixer -D pulse sget Master'
-local INC_VOLUME_CMD = 'amixer -D pulse sset Master 5%+'
-local DEC_VOLUME_CMD = 'amixer -D pulse sset Master 5%-'
-local TOG_VOLUME_CMD = 'amixer -D pulse sset Master toggle'
+local device_arg
+if secrets.volume_audio_controller == 'pulse' then
+	device_arg = '-D pulse'
+else
+	device_arg = ''
+end
+
+local GET_VOLUME_CMD = 'amixer ' .. device_arg .. ' sget Master'
+local INC_VOLUME_CMD = 'amixer ' .. device_arg .. ' sset Master 5%+'
+local DEC_VOLUME_CMD = 'amixer ' .. device_arg .. ' sset Master 5%-'
+local TOG_VOLUME_CMD = 'amixer ' .. device_arg .. ' sset Master toggle'
+
 
 local volume_widget = wibox.widget {
     {
@@ -64,4 +74,4 @@ end)
 
 watch(GET_VOLUME_CMD, 1, update_graphic, volume_widget)
 
-return volume_widget
\ No newline at end of file
+return volume_widget