diff --git a/lib/maca.c b/lib/maca.c
index e6ea4a2a8..74b8b44da 100644
--- a/lib/maca.c
+++ b/lib/maca.c
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ void maca_init(void) {
 	radio_init();
 	flyback_init();
 	init_phy();
+	set_channel(0); /* things get weird if you never set a channel */
 	free_head = 0; tx_head = 0; rx_head = 0; rx_end = 0; tx_end = 0; dma_tx = 0; dma_rx = 0;
 	free_all_packets();