diff --git a/conf/autoload_configs/conference.conf.xml b/conf/autoload_configs/conference.conf.xml
index cab0578a57..d4e5aa60ee 100644
--- a/conf/autoload_configs/conference.conf.xml
+++ b/conf/autoload_configs/conference.conf.xml
@@ -52,8 +52,9 @@
 
       <!-- If TTS is enabled all audio-file params beginning with -->
       <!-- 'say:' will be considered text to say with TTS -->
-      <!-- Set a default path here so you can use relative paths in the other sound params-->
-      <param name="sound-prefix" value="$${sounds_dir}/en/us/callie"/>
+      <!-- Override the default path here, after which you use relative paths in the other sound params -->
+      <!-- Note: The default path is the conference's first caller's sound_prefix -->
+      <!--<param name="sound-prefix" value="$${sounds_dir}/en/us/callie"/>-->
       <!-- File to play to acknowledge succees -->
       <!--<param name="ack-sound" value="beep.wav"/>-->
       <!-- File to play to acknowledge failure -->
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@
       <param name="rate" value="16000"/>
       <param name="interval" value="20"/>
       <param name="energy-level" value="300"/>
-      <param name="sound-prefix" value="$${sounds_dir}/en/us/callie"/>
+      <!--<param name="sound-prefix" value="$${sounds_dir}/en/us/callie"/>-->
       <param name="muted-sound" value="conference/conf-muted.wav"/>
       <param name="unmuted-sound" value="conference/conf-unmuted.wav"/>
       <param name="alone-sound" value="conference/conf-alone.wav"/>
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@
       <param name="rate" value="32000"/>
       <param name="interval" value="20"/>
       <param name="energy-level" value="300"/>
-      <param name="sound-prefix" value="$${sounds_dir}/en/us/callie"/>
+      <!--<param name="sound-prefix" value="$${sounds_dir}/en/us/callie"/>-->
       <param name="muted-sound" value="conference/conf-muted.wav"/>
       <param name="unmuted-sound" value="conference/conf-unmuted.wav"/>
       <param name="alone-sound" value="conference/conf-alone.wav"/>
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@
       <param name="rate" value="48000"/>
       <param name="interval" value="10"/>
       <param name="energy-level" value="300"/>
-      <param name="sound-prefix" value="$${sounds_dir}/en/us/callie"/>
+      <!--<param name="sound-prefix" value="$${sounds_dir}/en/us/callie"/>-->
       <param name="muted-sound" value="conference/conf-muted.wav"/>
       <param name="unmuted-sound" value="conference/conf-unmuted.wav"/>
       <param name="alone-sound" value="conference/conf-alone.wav"/>
diff --git a/src/mod/applications/mod_conference/mod_conference.c b/src/mod/applications/mod_conference/mod_conference.c
index 6892cbab9e..56c85ad2f3 100644
--- a/src/mod/applications/mod_conference/mod_conference.c
+++ b/src/mod/applications/mod_conference/mod_conference.c
@@ -6423,6 +6423,7 @@ static conference_obj_t *conference_new(char *name, conf_xml_cfg_t cfg, switch_c
 					comfort_noise_level = 1400;
 				}
 			} else if (!strcasecmp(var, "sound-prefix") && !zstr(val)) {
+				switch_log_printf(SWITCH_CHANNEL_LOG, SWITCH_LOG_DEBUG, "override sound-prefix with: %s\n", val);
 				sound_prefix = val;
 			} else if (!strcasecmp(var, "max-members") && !zstr(val)) {
 				errno = 0;		/* sanity first */
@@ -6527,8 +6528,15 @@ static conference_obj_t *conference_new(char *name, conf_xml_cfg_t cfg, switch_c
 		set_cflags(conference_flags, &conference->flags);
 	}
 
-	if (sound_prefix) {
+	if (!zstr(sound_prefix)) {
 		conference->sound_prefix = switch_core_strdup(conference->pool, sound_prefix);
+	} else {
+		const char *val;
+		if ((val = switch_channel_get_variable(channel, "sound_prefix")) && !zstr(val)) {
+			/* if no sound_prefix was set, use the channel sound_prefix */
+			conference->sound_prefix = switch_core_strdup(conference->pool, val);
+			switch_log_printf(SWITCH_CHANNEL_LOG, SWITCH_LOG_INFO, "using channel sound prefix: %s\n", conference->sound_prefix);
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (!zstr(enter_sound)) {