diff --git a/gr-jay/grc/jay_squelch.xml b/gr-jay/grc/jay_squelch.xml
index 745312e..e5b50bb 100644
--- a/gr-jay/grc/jay_squelch.xml
+++ b/gr-jay/grc/jay_squelch.xml
@@ -4,8 +4,13 @@
   <key>jay_squelch</key>
   <category>[jay]</category>
   <import>import jay</import>
-  <make>jay.squelch()</make>
-
+  <make>jay.squelch($initValue)</make>
+  <param>
+    <name>Initial Value</name>
+    <key>initValue</key>
+    <value>0.0</value>
+    <type>float</type>
+  </param>
   <sink>
     <name>control</name>
     <type>message</type>
diff --git a/gr-jay/include/jay/squelch.h b/gr-jay/include/jay/squelch.h
index 007cb64..523b509 100644
--- a/gr-jay/include/jay/squelch.h
+++ b/gr-jay/include/jay/squelch.h
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ namespace gr {
        * class. jay::squelch::make is the public interface for
        * creating new instances.
        */
-      static sptr make();
+      static sptr make(float initValue);
     };
 
   } // namespace jay
diff --git a/gr-jay/lib/squelch_impl.cc b/gr-jay/lib/squelch_impl.cc
index c3407c9..d9a438e 100644
--- a/gr-jay/lib/squelch_impl.cc
+++ b/gr-jay/lib/squelch_impl.cc
@@ -30,21 +30,21 @@ namespace gr {
   namespace jay {
 
     squelch::sptr
-    squelch::make()
+    squelch::make(float initValue)
     {
       return gnuradio::get_initial_sptr
-        (new squelch_impl());
+        (new squelch_impl(initValue));
     }
 
     /*
      * The private constructor
      */
 	
-    squelch_impl::squelch_impl()
+    squelch_impl::squelch_impl(float initValue)
       : gr::sync_block("squelch",
               gr::io_signature::make(1, 1, sizeof(float)),
               gr::io_signature::make(1, 1, sizeof(float)))
-	  , m_gain_target(1.0f)
+	  , m_gain_target(initValue)
 	  , m_gain(0.0f)
     {
 		m_msg_port_in = pmt::mp("control");
diff --git a/gr-jay/lib/squelch_impl.h b/gr-jay/lib/squelch_impl.h
index aae431a..68e016b 100644
--- a/gr-jay/lib/squelch_impl.h
+++ b/gr-jay/lib/squelch_impl.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ namespace gr {
 		float m_gain;
 		
      public:
-      squelch_impl();
+      squelch_impl(float initValue);
       ~squelch_impl();
 	  void print_pair(pmt::pmt_t pair);
 	  void on_message(pmt::pmt_t msg);