diff --git a/etc/config b/etc/config
index a0f3b84d..3c69e8fc 100644
--- a/etc/config
+++ b/etc/config
@@ -29,9 +29,10 @@ exec --no-startup-id xss-lock --transfer-sleep-lock -- i3lock --nofork
 exec --no-startup-id nm-applet
 
 # Use pactl to adjust volume in PulseAudio.
-bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ +10%
-bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ -10%
-bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle
+set $refresh_i3status killall -SIGUSR1 i3status
+bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ +10% && $refresh_i3status
+bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ -10% && $refresh_i3status
+bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle && $refresh_i3status
 
 # use these keys for focus, movement, and resize directions when reaching for
 # the arrows is not convenient
diff --git a/etc/config.keycodes b/etc/config.keycodes
index 6045ea68..82808f1e 100644
--- a/etc/config.keycodes
+++ b/etc/config.keycodes
@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@ exec --no-startup-id xss-lock --transfer-sleep-lock -- i3lock --nofork
 exec --no-startup-id nm-applet
 
 # Use pactl to adjust volume in PulseAudio.
-bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ +10%
-bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ -10%
-bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle
+set $refresh_i3status killall -SIGUSR1 i3status
+bindsym XF86AudioRaiseVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ +10% && $refresh_i3status
+bindsym XF86AudioLowerVolume exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ -10% && $refresh_i3status
+bindsym XF86AudioMute exec --no-startup-id pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle && $refresh_i3status
 
 # Use Mouse+$mod to drag floating windows to their wanted position
 floating_modifier $mod