diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1592445..c929a72 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -64,8 +64,9 @@ claudedo test-audio
 ## Usage
 
 **Run it in a terminal you watch — that's the product.** You launch `claudedo
-start`, it does a quick mic check, then drops into a visible listen loop. Each
-utterance prints a timestamped, colored line — `HH:MM:SS [claude-libs] heard "…" →
+start` and it drops into a visible listen loop (pass `--check` to run a mic check
+first). Each utterance prints a timestamped, colored line — `HH:MM:SS [claude-libs]
+heard "…" →
 typed 'fix'` (green for injected, red for drops, `[SYSTEM]`/`[VOICE]` for state and
 recognition). That terminal is your recognition/action console; you attach to the
 `claude-<name>` session in another pane to watch the keystrokes land. It runs in the
@@ -73,9 +74,9 @@ foreground by design — the console is the point — though `claudedo stop` can
 stray instance.
 
 ```bash
-claudedo start            # mic-check, then the visible listen loop (listen mode default)
+claudedo start            # the visible listen loop (listen mode default; no mic check)
+claudedo start --check    # run a mic check before listening
 claudedo start --mode ptt # push-to-talk instead (desk-only — see Modes)
-claudedo start --skip-audio-check  # skip the pre-listen mic check
 claudedo status           # running? mode? target session?
 claudedo stop             # stop a running daemon
 claudedo set <name>       # set the sticky target -> claude-<name> (alias: switch)
diff --git a/src/claudedo/__main__.py b/src/claudedo/__main__.py
index eebb55a..bdeacbe 100644
--- a/src/claudedo/__main__.py
+++ b/src/claudedo/__main__.py
@@ -33,12 +33,12 @@ def cmd_start(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
     config = _load_or_die(args.config)
     if args.mode:
         config.mode = args.mode
-    if not args.skip_audio_check:
+    if args.check:
         print("checking mic before listening (speak briefly) ...")
         peak = _probe_mic(config, seconds=2.0, verbose=False)
         if peak is None or peak < 0.02:
             print("mic check failed — no usable input.", file=sys.stderr)
-            print("run `claudedo test-audio` to debug; or `claudedo start --skip-audio-check`",
+            print("run `claudedo test-audio` to debug, or `claudedo start` to skip the check",
                   file=sys.stderr)
             return 1
         print(f"mic OK (peak {peak:.3f}).")
@@ -217,8 +217,8 @@ def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
 
     sp = sub.add_parser("start", help="run the daemon (foreground)")
     sp.add_argument("--mode", choices=("listen", "ptt"), help="override input mode")
-    sp.add_argument("--skip-audio-check", action="store_true",
-                    help="skip the pre-listen mic check")
+    sp.add_argument("--check", action="store_true",
+                    help="run a mic check before listening (off by default)")
     sp.set_defaults(func=cmd_start)
 
     sub.add_parser("stop", help="stop a running daemon").set_defaults(func=cmd_stop)