diff --git a/bin/pactl_helper b/bin/pactl_helper
index 9ac013c..2aa3433 100755
--- a/bin/pactl_helper
+++ b/bin/pactl_helper
@@ -26,8 +26,17 @@ function mute {
   pactl set-sink-mute $(get_default_sink) ${MODE}
 }
 
+function volume {
+  VOL="${1}"
+  if test -z "${VOL}" ; then
+    echo "Need volume spec!"
+    exit 1
+  fi
+  pactl set-sink-volume $(get_default_sink) "${VOL}"
+}
+
 case "$1" in
-  mute|micmute)
+  mute|micmute|volume)
     $*
     ;;
   *)
diff --git a/dotfiles/config/i3/config b/dotfiles/config/i3/config
index c0cffd0..a3122ad 100644
--- a/dotfiles/config/i3/config
+++ b/dotfiles/config/i3/config
@@ -146,9 +146,10 @@ bindsym --whole-window $mod+button3 floating toggle
 
 # media keys
 # Pulse Audio controls
-bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume 0 +5%
-bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume 0 -5%
-bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-mute 0 toggle
+bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec --no-startup-id ~/bin/pactl_helper volume +5%
+bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec --no-startup-id ~/bin/pactl_helper volume -5%
+bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id ~/bin/pactl_helper mute toggle
+bindsym XF86AudioMicMute exec --no-startup-id ~/bin/pactl_helper micmute toggle
 # Screen brightness controls
 bindsym XF86MonBrightnessUp exec --no-startup-id xbacklight -inc 10
 bindsym XF86MonBrightnessDown exec --no-startup-id xbacklight -dec 10