diff --git a/src/sfizz/Defaults.h b/src/sfizz/Defaults.h
index e6cc47f5..8972f513 100644
--- a/src/sfizz/Defaults.h
+++ b/src/sfizz/Defaults.h
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ namespace Default
 	constexpr float delayEG { 0 };
 	constexpr float hold { 0 };
 	constexpr float release { 0 };
+	constexpr float ampegRelease { 0.001 }; // Default release to avoid clicks
 	constexpr float vel2release { 0.0f };
 	constexpr float start { 0.0 };
 	constexpr float sustain { 100.0 };
diff --git a/src/sfizz/Region.h b/src/sfizz/Region.h
index 61d97b27..8023070c 100644
--- a/src/sfizz/Region.h
+++ b/src/sfizz/Region.h
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ struct Region {
 
         gainToEffect.reserve(5); // sufficient room for main and fx1-4
         gainToEffect.push_back(1.0); // contribute 100% into the main bus
+
+        // Default amplitude release
+        amplitudeEG.release = Default::ampegRelease;
     }
     Region(const Region&) = default;
     ~Region() = default;
diff --git a/tests/RegionT.cpp b/tests/RegionT.cpp
index c7896667..cc2714a0 100644
--- a/tests/RegionT.cpp
+++ b/tests/RegionT.cpp
@@ -1045,7 +1045,7 @@ TEST_CASE("[Region] Parsing opcodes")
         REQUIRE(region.amplitudeEG.decay == 0.0f);
         REQUIRE(region.amplitudeEG.delay == 0.0f);
         REQUIRE(region.amplitudeEG.hold == 0.0f);
-        REQUIRE(region.amplitudeEG.release == 0.0f);
+        REQUIRE(region.amplitudeEG.release == 0.001f);
         REQUIRE(region.amplitudeEG.start == 0.0f);
         REQUIRE(region.amplitudeEG.sustain == 100.0f);
         REQUIRE(region.amplitudeEG.depth == 0);
diff --git a/tests/SynthT.cpp b/tests/SynthT.cpp
index 49fccde2..b7a7d1af 100644
--- a/tests/SynthT.cpp
+++ b/tests/SynthT.cpp
@@ -1369,3 +1369,14 @@ TEST_CASE("[Synth] Initial values of CC")
     REQUIRE(synth.getHdccInit(111) == Approx(0.1234f));
     REQUIRE(synth.getHdccInit(112) == Approx(77.0f / 127));
 }
+
+TEST_CASE("[Synth] Default ampeg_release")
+{
+    sfz::Synth synth;
+
+    synth.loadSfzString(fs::current_path() / "default_release.sfz", R"(
+        <region> sample=*sine
+    )");
+
+    REQUIRE(synth.getRegionView(0)->amplitudeEG.release > 0.0005f);
+}