diff --git a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/recv.py b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/recv.py
index a3cd1b58844db9325bea6ea3b5109076177c3a37..22b31f5c522d2563d855188bc706c011367dad05 100644
--- a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/recv.py
+++ b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/recv.py
@@ -265,6 +265,11 @@ class RECV(opcua_device):
         # Restore the mask
         self.RCU_mask_RW = RCU_mask
 
+    def configure_for_initialise(self):
+        super().configure_for_initialise()
+        # apply the RCU_attenuator_dB config
+        self.RCU_attenuator_dB_RW = self.RCU_band_select_RW_default
+
     # --------
     # internal functions
     # --------