diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.js.erb b/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.js.erb
index 278a1e8b..c49e6801 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.js.erb
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.js.erb
@@ -2239,6 +2239,7 @@ Metamaps.Realtime = {
     invitedToCall: function (inviter) {
       var self = Metamaps.Realtime;
 
+      self.room.chat.sound.stop('sessioninvite');
       self.room.chat.sound.play('sessioninvite');
 
       var username = self.mappersOnMap[inviter].name;
@@ -2251,6 +2252,7 @@ Metamaps.Realtime = {
     invitedToJoin: function (inviter) {
       var self = Metamaps.Realtime;
 
+      self.room.chat.sound.stop('sessioninvite');
       self.room.chat.sound.play('sessioninvite');
 
       var username = self.mappersOnMap[inviter].name;
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/src/views/chatView.js.erb b/app/assets/javascripts/src/views/chatView.js.erb
index 174d54bb..7a1e7f8e 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/src/views/chatView.js.erb
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/src/views/chatView.js.erb
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ Metamaps.Views.chatView = (function () {
             this.$participants = $('<div class="participants"></div>');
             this.$conversationInProgress = $('<div class="conversation-live">LIVE <span class="call-action leave" onclick="Metamaps.Realtime.leaveCall();">LEAVE</span><span class="call-action join" onclick="Metamaps.Realtime.joinCall();">JOIN</span></div>');
             this.$chatHeader = $('<div class="chat-header">CHAT</div>');
-            this.$soundToggle = $('<div class="sound-toggle active"></div>');
+            this.$soundToggle = $('<div class="sound-toggle"></div>');
             this.$messages = $('<div class="chat-messages"></div>');
             this.$container = $('<div class="chat-box"></div>');
         },
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ Metamaps.Views.chatView = (function () {
             this.$unread.html(this.unreadMessages);
             this.$unread.show();
         },
-        addMessage: function(message, isInitial) {
+        addMessage: function(message, isInitial, wasMe) {
 
             if (!this.isOpen && !isInitial) Private.incrementUnread.call(this);
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ Metamaps.Views.chatView = (function () {
             this.$messages.append($html);
             if (!isInitial) this.scrollMessages(200);
 
-            if (!isInitial && this.alertSound) this.sound.play('receivechat');
+            if (!wasMe && !isInitial && this.alertSound) this.sound.play('receivechat');
         },
         initialMessages: function() {
             var messages = this.messages.models;
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ Metamaps.Views.chatView = (function () {
         this.messages = messages; // backbone collection
 
         this.isOpen = false;
-        this.alertSound = false; // whether to play sounds on arrival of new messages or not
+        this.alertSound = true; // whether to play sounds on arrival of new messages or not
         this.cursorsShowing = true;
         this.videosShowing = true;
         this.unreadMessages = 0;
@@ -289,9 +289,9 @@ Metamaps.Views.chatView = (function () {
         $(document).trigger(chatView.events.openTray);
     }
 
-    chatView.prototype.addMessage = function(message, isInitial) {
+    chatView.prototype.addMessage = function(message, isInitial, wasMe) {
       this.messages.add(message);
-      Private.addMessage.call(this, message, isInitial);
+      Private.addMessage.call(this, message, isInitial, wasMe);
     }
 
     chatView.prototype.scrollMessages = function(duration) {
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/src/views/room.js b/app/assets/javascripts/src/views/room.js
index a6f0eec8..4595c3cb 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/src/views/room.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/src/views/room.js
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ Metamaps.Views.room = (function () {
           });
           m.save(null, {
             success: function (model, response) {
-              self.addMessages(new Metamaps.Backbone.MessageCollection(model), true);
+              self.addMessages(new Metamaps.Backbone.MessageCollection(model), false, true);
               $(document).trigger(room.events.newMessage, [model]);
             },
             error: function (model, response) {
@@ -175,11 +175,11 @@ Metamaps.Views.room = (function () {
 
       // they should be instantiated as backbone models before they get
       // passed to this function
-      room.prototype.addMessages = function (messages, isInitial) {
+      room.prototype.addMessages = function (messages, isInitial, wasMe) {
         var self = this;
 
         messages.models.forEach(function (message) {
-          self.chat.addMessage(message, isInitial);
+          self.chat.addMessage(message, isInitial, wasMe);
         });
       }