diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f9a3e47..3f83810 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ runtime use the command prompt by typing `:reload`.
 Possible configuration values are:
 
 | Name                     | Description                                 | Possible values                                   |   Default   |
-| :----------------------- | :------------------------------------------ | :------------------------------------------------ | :---------: |
+| :----------------------- | :------------------------------------------ |:--------------------------------------------------|:-----------:|
 | `command_key`            | Key to open command line                    | Single character                                  |     `:`     |
 | `initial_screen`         | Screen to show after startup                | `"library"`, `"search"`, `"queue"`, `"cover"`[^2] | `"library"` |
 | `use_nerdfont`           | Turn nerdfont glyphs on/off                 | `true`, `false`                                   |   `false`   |
@@ -326,6 +326,7 @@ Possible configuration values are:
 | `gapless`                | Enable gapless playback                     | `true`, `false`                                   |   `true`    |
 | `shuffle`                | Set default shuffle state                   | `true`, `false`                                   |   `false`   |
 | `repeat`                 | Set default repeat mode                     | `off`, `track`, `playlist`                        |    `off`    |
+| `playback_state`         | Set default playback state                  | `"Stopped"`, `"Paused"`, `"Playing"`, `"Default"` | `"Paused"`  |
 | `[theme]`                | Custom theme                                | See [custom theme](#theming)                      |             |
 | `[keybindings]`          | Custom keybindings                          | See [custom keybindings](#custom-keybindings)     |             |
 
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 211d45f..94f7519 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@ use crate::serialization::{Serializer, CBOR, TOML};
 pub const CLIENT_ID: &str = "d420a117a32841c2b3474932e49fb54b";
 pub const CACHE_VERSION: u16 = 1;
 
+#[derive(Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub enum PlaybackState {
+    Playing,
+    Paused,
+    Stopped,
+    Default,
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Default)]
 pub struct ConfigValues {
     pub command_key: Option<char>,
@@ -37,6 +45,7 @@ pub struct ConfigValues {
     pub shuffle: Option<bool>,
     pub repeat: Option<queue::RepeatSetting>,
     pub cover_max_scale: Option<f32>,
+    pub playback_state: Option<PlaybackState>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Default, Clone)]
@@ -83,17 +92,19 @@ pub struct UserState {
     pub queuestate: QueueState,
     pub playlist_orders: HashMap<String, SortingOrder>,
     pub cache_version: u16,
+    pub playback_state: PlaybackState,
 }
 
 impl Default for UserState {
     fn default() -> Self {
         UserState {
-            volume: u16::max_value(),
+            volume: u16::MAX,
             shuffle: false,
             repeat: queue::RepeatSetting::None,
             queuestate: QueueState::default(),
             playlist_orders: HashMap::new(),
             cache_version: 0,
+            playback_state: PlaybackState::Default,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -129,6 +140,10 @@ impl Config {
             userstate.repeat = repeat;
         }
 
+        if let Some(playback_state) = values.playback_state.clone() {
+            userstate.playback_state = playback_state;
+        }
+
         Self {
             filename: filename.to_string(),
             values: RwLock::new(values),
diff --git a/src/queue.rs b/src/queue.rs
index 4fe08e4..352e5fe 100644
--- a/src/queue.rs
+++ b/src/queue.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use notify_rust::Notification;
 use rand::prelude::*;
 use strum_macros::Display;
 
+use crate::config::PlaybackState;
 use crate::model::playable::Playable;
 use crate::spotify::Spotify;
 use crate::{config::Config, spotify::PlayerEvent};
@@ -42,21 +43,32 @@ pub struct Queue {
 
 impl Queue {
     pub fn new(spotify: Spotify, cfg: Arc<Config>) -> Queue {
-        let state = cfg.state().queuestate.clone();
+        let queue_state = cfg.state().queuestate.clone();
+        let playback_state = cfg.state().playback_state.clone();
         let queue = Queue {
-            queue: Arc::new(RwLock::new(state.queue)),
+            queue: Arc::new(RwLock::new(queue_state.queue)),
             spotify: spotify.clone(),
-            current_track: RwLock::new(state.current_track),
-            random_order: RwLock::new(state.random_order),
+            current_track: RwLock::new(queue_state.current_track),
+            random_order: RwLock::new(queue_state.random_order),
             cfg,
             notification_id: Arc::new(AtomicU32::new(0)),
         };
 
         if let Some(playable) = queue.get_current() {
-            spotify.load(&playable, false, state.track_progress.as_millis() as u32);
+            spotify.load(
+                &playable,
+                playback_state == PlaybackState::Playing,
+                queue_state.track_progress.as_millis() as u32,
+            );
             spotify.update_track();
-            spotify.pause();
-            spotify.seek(state.track_progress.as_millis() as u32);
+            match playback_state {
+                PlaybackState::Stopped => {
+                    spotify.stop();
+                }
+                PlaybackState::Paused | PlaybackState::Default | _ => {
+                    spotify.pause();
+                }
+            }
         }
 
         queue