diff --git a/src/ophyd_async/core/signal.py b/src/ophyd_async/core/signal.py
index 49db513a20..2e471a4ba1 100644
--- a/src/ophyd_async/core/signal.py
+++ b/src/ophyd_async/core/signal.py
@@ -254,20 +254,28 @@ def set_sim_callback(signal: Signal[T], callback: ReadingValueCallback[T]) -> No
 
 
 def soft_signal_rw(
-    datatype: Optional[Type[T]], name: str, source_prefix: str
+    datatype: Optional[Type[T]],
+    name: str,
+    source_prefix: str,
+    initial_value: Optional[T] = None,
 ) -> SignalRW[T]:
     """Creates a read-writable Signal with a SimSignalBackend"""
-    return SignalRW(SimSignalBackend(datatype, f"sim://{source_prefix}:{name}"))
+    return SignalRW(
+        SimSignalBackend(datatype, f"sim://{source_prefix}:{name}", initial_value)
+    )
 
 
 def soft_signal_r_and_backend(
-    datatype: Optional[Type[T]], name: str, source_prefix: str
+    datatype: Optional[Type[T]],
+    name: str,
+    source_prefix: str,
+    initial_value: Optional[T] = None,
 ) -> Tuple[SignalR[T], SimSignalBackend]:
     """Returns a tuple of a read-only Signal and its SimSignalBackend through
     which the signal can be internally modified within the device. Use
     soft_signal_rw if you want a device that is externally modifiable
     """
-    backend = SimSignalBackend(datatype, f"sim://{source_prefix}:{name}")
+    backend = SimSignalBackend(datatype, f"sim://{source_prefix}:{name}", initial_value)
     signal = SignalR(backend)
     return (signal, backend)
 
diff --git a/src/ophyd_async/core/sim_signal_backend.py b/src/ophyd_async/core/sim_signal_backend.py
index b0190344bb..9ea3f61853 100644
--- a/src/ophyd_async/core/sim_signal_backend.py
+++ b/src/ophyd_async/core/sim_signal_backend.py
@@ -107,23 +107,33 @@ class SimSignalBackend(SignalBackend[T]):
     """An simulated backend to a Signal, created with ``Signal.connect(sim=True)``"""
 
     _value: T
-    _initial_value: T
+    _initial_value: Optional[T]
     _timestamp: float
     _severity: int
 
-    def __init__(self, datatype: Optional[Type[T]], source: str) -> None:
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        datatype: Optional[Type[T]],
+        source: str,
+        initial_value: Optional[T] = None,
+    ) -> None:
         pv = re.split(r"://", source)[-1]
         self.source = f"sim://{pv}"
         self.datatype = datatype
         self.pv = source
         self.converter: SimConverter = DisconnectedSimConverter()
+        self._initial_value = initial_value
         self.put_proceeds = asyncio.Event()
         self.put_proceeds.set()
         self.callback: Optional[ReadingValueCallback[T]] = None
 
     async def connect(self, timeout: float = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT) -> None:
         self.converter = make_converter(self.datatype)
-        self._initial_value = self.converter.make_initial_value(self.datatype)
+        if self._initial_value is None:
+            self._initial_value = self.converter.make_initial_value(self.datatype)
+        else:
+            # convert potentially unconverted initial value passed to init method
+            self._initial_value = self.converter.write_value(self._initial_value)
         self._severity = 0
 
         await self.put(None)
diff --git a/tests/core/test_signal.py b/tests/core/test_signal.py
index ff2f228bd9..3b16601ddd 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_signal.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_signal.py
@@ -131,14 +131,16 @@ async def test_set_and_wait_for_value():
 async def test_create_soft_signal(signal_method, signal_class):
     TEST_PREFIX = "TEST-PREFIX"
     SIGNAL_NAME = "SIGNAL"
+    INITIAL_VALUE = "INITIAL"
     if signal_method == soft_signal_r_and_backend:
-        signal, backend = signal_method(str, SIGNAL_NAME, TEST_PREFIX)
+        signal, backend = signal_method(str, SIGNAL_NAME, TEST_PREFIX, INITIAL_VALUE)
     elif signal_method == soft_signal_rw:
-        signal = signal_method(str, SIGNAL_NAME, TEST_PREFIX)
+        signal = signal_method(str, SIGNAL_NAME, TEST_PREFIX, INITIAL_VALUE)
         backend = signal._backend
     assert signal._backend.source == f"sim://{TEST_PREFIX}:{SIGNAL_NAME}"
     assert isinstance(signal, signal_class)
     assert isinstance(signal._backend, SimSignalBackend)
     await signal.connect()
+    assert (await signal.get_value()) == INITIAL_VALUE
     # connecting with sim=False uses existing SimSignalBackend
     assert signal._backend is backend