diff --git a/audio_pa.c b/audio_pa.c
index 998dbc27..a0c6afec 100644
--- a/audio_pa.c
+++ b/audio_pa.c
@@ -504,9 +504,9 @@ static int init(__attribute__((unused)) int argc, __attribute__((unused)) char *
       config.pa_server = (char *)str;
     }
 
-    // get the default channel mapping setting basis -- native ("no") or pa ("yes").
+    // get the default channel mapping setting basis -- "alsa" or "pulseaudio".
 
-    if (config_lookup_non_empty_string(config.cfg, "pulseaudio", &default_channel_layouts)) {
+    if (config_lookup_non_empty_string(config.cfg, "pulseaudio.default_channel_layouts", &default_channel_layouts)) {
       if ((strcasecmp(default_channel_layouts, "alsa") == 0) ||
           (strcasecmp(default_channel_layouts, "pulseaudio") == 0)) {
         debug(1, "pulseaudio default_channel_layouts setting: \"%s\".", default_channel_layouts);