diff --git a/alsaaudio.c b/alsaaudio.c
index 1cf3ed3..75e628b 100644
--- a/alsaaudio.c
+++ b/alsaaudio.c
@@ -1977,6 +1977,15 @@ alsamixer_getvolume(alsamixer_t *self, PyObject *args)
 
 	elem = alsamixer_find_elem(self->handle,self->controlname,self->controlid);
 
+	if (!pcmtypeobj || (pcmtypeobj == Py_None)) {
+		if (self->pchannels) {
+			pcmtype = SND_PCM_STREAM_PLAYBACK;
+		}
+	}
+	else {
+		pcmtype = SND_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE;
+	}
+
 	result = PyList_New(0);
 
 	for (channel = 0; channel <= SND_MIXER_SCHN_LAST; channel++) {