diff --git a/awesome/widgets/volume-widget/volume.lua b/awesome/widgets/volume-widget/volume.lua
index 2561eb9..fe79854 100644
--- a/awesome/widgets/volume-widget/volume.lua
+++ b/awesome/widgets/volume-widget/volume.lua
@@ -181,8 +181,10 @@ local function worker(user_args)
         elseif mute == 'on' then widget:unmute()
         end
         local volume_level = string.match(stdout, "(%d?%d?%d)%%") -- (\d?\d?\d)\%)
-        volume_level = string.format("% 3d", volume_level)
-        widget:set_volume_level(volume_level)
+        if volume_level ~= nil then
+            volume_level = string.format("% 3d", volume_level)
+            widget:set_volume_level(volume_level)
+        end
     end
 
     function volume:inc(s)