diff --git a/image-recipe/configs/archipelago-kiosk-launcher.sh b/image-recipe/configs/archipelago-kiosk-launcher.sh
index 2f34a33e..562d607c 100644
--- a/image-recipe/configs/archipelago-kiosk-launcher.sh
+++ b/image-recipe/configs/archipelago-kiosk-launcher.sh
@@ -93,8 +93,14 @@ else
     GPU_FLAGS="--disable-gpu --num-raster-threads=1"
 fi
 
+ARCHIPELAGO_UID=$(id -u archipelago)
+
 while true; do
-    sudo -u archipelago env DISPLAY=:0 HOME=/home/archipelago chromium --kiosk \
+    # XDG_RUNTIME_DIR must be passed explicitly — without it Chromium's audio
+    # backend can't find PipeWire-Pulse's socket at /run/user/<uid>/pulse/native,
+    # falls back to raw ALSA "default", fails to connect, and produces no audio
+    # at all with no visible error (--noerrdialogs suppresses it).
+    sudo -u archipelago env DISPLAY=:0 HOME=/home/archipelago XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/user/$ARCHIPELAGO_UID chromium --kiosk \
       --app=http://localhost/kiosk?safe_area_x=${KIOSK_SAFE_AREA_X_PX:-0}\&safe_area_y=${KIOSK_SAFE_AREA_Y_PX:-0} \
       --noerrdialogs \
       --disable-infobars \