diff --git a/epicyon.py b/epicyon.py
index 7154750f3..3caff9ee4 100644
--- a/epicyon.py
+++ b/epicyon.py
@@ -1946,24 +1946,26 @@ if args.speaker:
         if speakerJson:
             if speakerJson['say'] != prevSay:
                 if speakerJson.get('name'):
-                    # Get the speech parameters, based upon the speaker's name
+                    # echo spoken text to the screen
                     nameStr = speakerJson['name']
                     print(html.unescape(nameStr) + ': ' +
                           html.unescape(speakerJson['say']) + '\n')
-                    pitch = getSpeakerPitch(nameStr)
-                    if args.screenreader == 'espeak':
-                        espeak.set_parameter(espeak.Parameter.Pitch, pitch)
-                    rate = getSpeakerRate(nameStr)
-                    if args.screenreader == 'espeak':
-                        espeak.set_parameter(espeak.Parameter.Rate, rate)
+
+                    # get the speech parameters
+                    pitch = getSpeakerPitch(nameStr, args.screenreader)
+                    rate = getSpeakerRate(nameStr, args.screenreader)
                     srange = getSpeakerRange(nameStr)
 
                     # say the speaker's name
                     if args.screenreader == 'espeak':
+                        espeak.set_parameter(espeak.Parameter.Pitch, pitch)
+                        espeak.set_parameter(espeak.Parameter.Rate, rate)
                         espeak.set_parameter(espeak.Parameter.Range, srange)
                         espeak.synth(html.unescape(nameStr))
                     elif args.screenreader == 'picospeaker':
-                        os.system('picospeaker "' +
+                        os.system('picospeaker ' +
+                                  '-r ' + str(rate) +
+                                  ' -p ' + str(pitch) + ' "' +
                                   html.unescape(nameStr) + '"')
                     time.sleep(3)
 
@@ -1978,7 +1980,9 @@ if args.speaker:
                     if args.screenreader == 'espeak':
                         espeak.synth(html.unescape(sayStr))
                     elif args.screenreader == 'picospeaker':
-                        os.system('picospeaker "' +
+                        os.system('picospeaker ' +
+                                  '-r ' + str(rate) +
+                                  ' -p ' + str(pitch) + ' "' +
                                   html.unescape(sayStr) + '"')
 
                 prevSay = speakerJson['say']
diff --git a/speaker.py b/speaker.py
index a54c75b9f..55715f48a 100644
--- a/speaker.py
+++ b/speaker.py
@@ -13,17 +13,21 @@ from session import getJson
 from utils import getFullDomain
 
 
-def getSpeakerPitch(displayName: str) -> int:
+def getSpeakerPitch(displayName: str, screenreader: str) -> int:
     """Returns the speech synthesis pitch for the given name
     """
     random.seed(displayName)
+    if screenreader == 'picospeaker':
+        return random.randint(-79, 39)
     return random.randint(1, 100)
 
 
-def getSpeakerRate(displayName: str) -> int:
+def getSpeakerRate(displayName: str, screenreader: str) -> int:
     """Returns the speech synthesis rate for the given name
     """
     random.seed(displayName)
+    if screenreader == 'picospeaker':
+        return random.randint(-90, 9900)
     return random.randint(50, 120)