diff --git a/conf/testing/autoload_configs/opus.conf.xml b/conf/testing/autoload_configs/opus.conf.xml
index e187a0a6c5..1154797dce 100644
--- a/conf/testing/autoload_configs/opus.conf.xml
+++ b/conf/testing/autoload_configs/opus.conf.xml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
     <param name="complexity" value="10"/>
     <param name="use-jb-lookahead" value="true"/>
 	<param name="keep-fec-enabled" value="true"/>
-    <param name="adjust-bitrate" value="true"/>
+	<param name="adjust-bitrate" value="true"/>
+    <param name="mono" value="0"/>
   </settings>
 </configuration>
diff --git a/conf/vanilla/autoload_configs/opus.conf.xml b/conf/vanilla/autoload_configs/opus.conf.xml
index 94aaede471..8494c2d3c7 100644
--- a/conf/vanilla/autoload_configs/opus.conf.xml
+++ b/conf/vanilla/autoload_configs/opus.conf.xml
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 	<!-- Max capture rate, 8000, 12000, 16000, 24000 and 48000 are valid options -->
         <!--<param name="sprop-maxcapturerate" value="0"/>-->
 	<!-- Enable automatic bitrate variation during the call based on RTCP feedback -->
-        <!--<param name="adjust-bitrate" value="1"/>-->
+	<!--<param name="adjust-bitrate" value="1"/>-->
+	<!-- will enforce mono even if the remote party wants stereo. must be used in conjunction with param "max-audio-channels" set to 1 in switch.conf.xml. -->
+		<param name="mono" value="0"/>
     </settings>
 </configuration>
diff --git a/src/mod/codecs/mod_opus/mod_opus.c b/src/mod/codecs/mod_opus/mod_opus.c
index 2081ef1b88..a90aba346a 100644
--- a/src/mod/codecs/mod_opus/mod_opus.c
+++ b/src/mod/codecs/mod_opus/mod_opus.c
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ struct {
 	int debuginfo;
 	uint32_t use_jb_lookahead;
 	switch_mutex_t *mutex;
+	int mono;
 } opus_prefs;
 
 static struct {
@@ -283,7 +284,7 @@ static switch_status_t switch_opus_fmtp_parse(const char *fmtp, switch_codec_fmt
 					}
 
 					if (!strcasecmp(data, "stereo")) {
-						codec_settings->stereo = atoi(arg);
+						codec_settings->stereo = opus_prefs.mono ? 0 : atoi(arg);
 						codec_fmtp->stereo = codec_settings->stereo;
 					}
 
@@ -563,6 +564,11 @@ static switch_status_t switch_opus_init(switch_codec_t *codec, switch_codec_flag
 
 	opus_codec_settings.usedtx = opus_prefs.use_dtx;
 
+	if (opus_prefs.mono) {
+		opus_codec_settings.stereo = 0;
+		opus_codec_settings.sprop_stereo = 0;
+	}
+
 	codec->fmtp_out = gen_fmtp(&opus_codec_settings, codec->memory_pool);
 
 	if (encoding) {
@@ -1080,6 +1086,8 @@ static switch_status_t opus_load_config(switch_bool_t reload)
 				if (!switch_opus_acceptable_rate(opus_prefs.sprop_maxcapturerate)) {
 					opus_prefs.sprop_maxcapturerate = 0; /* value not supported */
 				}
+			} else if (!strcasecmp(key, "mono")) {
+				opus_prefs.mono = atoi(val);
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/switch_core_media.c b/src/switch_core_media.c
index ac8b9b9f71..686bc344f7 100644
--- a/src/switch_core_media.c
+++ b/src/switch_core_media.c
@@ -5774,7 +5774,13 @@ SWITCH_DECLARE(uint8_t) switch_core_media_negotiate_sdp(switch_core_session_t *s
 							pmap->adv_channels = 2; /* IKR ???*/
 						}
 						if (!zstr((char *) mmap->rm_fmtp) && switch_stristr("stereo=1", (char *) mmap->rm_fmtp)) {
-							pmap->channels = 2;
+							uint32_t allow_channels = switch_core_max_audio_channels(0);
+							if (!allow_channels || allow_channels >= 2) { /*default*/
+								pmap->channels = 2;
+							} else { /* allow_channels == 1 */
+								switch_log_printf(SWITCH_CHANNEL_SESSION_LOG(session), SWITCH_LOG_DEBUG, "Opus: setting 1 audio channel via config.\n");
+								pmap->channels = 1;
+							}
 						} else {
 							pmap->channels = 1;
 						}