diff --git a/panda/src/audio/config_audio.cxx b/panda/src/audio/config_audio.cxx
index 20fc8a521e..cdf931f65d 100644
--- a/panda/src/audio/config_audio.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/audio/config_audio.cxx
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ ConfigureFn(config_audio) {
   AudioGuiFunctor::init_type();
 
   audio_dls_file = new string(
-      config_audio.GetString("audio-dls-file", "GM.DLS"));
+      config_audio.GetString("audio-dls-file", ""));
 
   audio_library_name = new string(
       config_audio.GetString("audio-library-name", "miles_audio"));