diff --git a/src/ipa/rpi/controller/decompand_algorithm.h b/src/ipa/rpi/controller/decompand_algorithm.h
index f19f8c109323..6d2467490106 100644
--- a/src/ipa/rpi/controller/decompand_algorithm.h
+++ b/src/ipa/rpi/controller/decompand_algorithm.h
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ public:
 		: Algorithm(controller)
 	{
 	}
+	/* A decompand algorithm must provide the following: */
+	virtual void initialValues(libcamera::ipa::Pwl &decompandCurve) = 0;
 };
 
 } /* namespace RPiController */
diff --git a/src/ipa/rpi/controller/rpi/decompand.cpp b/src/ipa/rpi/controller/rpi/decompand.cpp
index 5b4c2e5524af..2d457926c060 100644
--- a/src/ipa/rpi/controller/rpi/decompand.cpp
+++ b/src/ipa/rpi/controller/rpi/decompand.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,14 @@ void Decompand::switchMode(CameraMode const &cameraMode,
 	mode_ = cameraMode;
 }
 
+void Decompand::initialValues(libcamera::ipa::Pwl &decompandCurve)
+{
+	if (config_.bitdepth == 0 || mode_.bitdepth == config_.bitdepth) {
+		decompandCurve = config_.decompandCurve;
+	} else
+		decompandCurve = {};
+}
+
 void Decompand::prepare(Metadata *imageMetadata)
 {
 	DecompandStatus decompandStatus;
diff --git a/src/ipa/rpi/controller/rpi/decompand.h b/src/ipa/rpi/controller/rpi/decompand.h
index 0f2a9b3bbdc4..6db779c359a8 100644
--- a/src/ipa/rpi/controller/rpi/decompand.h
+++ b/src/ipa/rpi/controller/rpi/decompand.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ public:
 	int read(const libcamera::YamlObject &params) override;
 	void initialise() override;
 	void switchMode(CameraMode const &cameraMode, Metadata *metadata) override;
+	void initialValues(libcamera::ipa::Pwl &decompandCurve) override;
 	void prepare(Metadata *imageMetadata) override;
 
 private:
diff --git a/src/ipa/rpi/pisp/pisp.cpp b/src/ipa/rpi/pisp/pisp.cpp
index f5be39aca5ee..01baebcd2bb6 100644
--- a/src/ipa/rpi/pisp/pisp.cpp
+++ b/src/ipa/rpi/pisp/pisp.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "controller/cac_status.h"
 #include "controller/ccm_status.h"
 #include "controller/contrast_status.h"
+#include "controller/decompand_algorithm.h"
 #include "controller/decompand_status.h"
 #include "controller/denoise_algorithm.h"
 #include "controller/denoise_status.h"
@@ -335,6 +336,20 @@ int32_t IpaPiSP::platformStart([[maybe_unused]] const ControlList &controls,
 	/* Cause the stitch block to be reset correctly. */
 	lastStitchHdrStatus_ = HdrStatus();
 
+	/* Setup a default decompand curve on startup if needed. */
+	RPiController::DecompandAlgorithm *decompand = dynamic_cast<RPiController::DecompandAlgorithm *>(
+		controller_.getAlgorithm("decompand"));
+	if (decompand) {
+		std::scoped_lock<FrontEnd> l(*fe_);
+		pisp_fe_global_config feGlobal;
+		DecompandStatus decompandStatus;
+
+		fe_->GetGlobal(feGlobal);
+		decompand->initialValues(decompandStatus.decompandCurve);
+		applyDecompand(&decompandStatus, feGlobal);
+		fe_->SetGlobal(feGlobal);
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 }