diff --git a/src/cthulhu/cthulhu_gui_prefs.py b/src/cthulhu/cthulhu_gui_prefs.py
index 843b694..2771d10 100644
--- a/src/cthulhu/cthulhu_gui_prefs.py
+++ b/src/cthulhu/cthulhu_gui_prefs.py
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@ class CthulhuSetupGUI(cthulhu_gtkbuilder.GtkBuilderWrapper):
         self.soundThemeCombo = None
         self.roleSoundPresentationCombo = None
         self._isInitialSetup = False
+        self._updatingSpeechFamilies = False
         self.selectedFamilyChoices = {}
         self.selectedLanguageChoices = {}
         self.profilesCombo = None
@@ -1271,7 +1272,7 @@ class CthulhuSetupGUI(cthulhu_gtkbuilder.GtkBuilderWrapper):
                         for familyChoice in self.speechFamiliesChoices:
                             name = familyChoice[speechserver.VoiceFamily.NAME]
                             if name == familyName:
-                                self.get_widget("speechFamilies").set_active(i)
+                                self._setSpeechFamiliesActive(i)
                                 self.speechFamiliesChoice = self.speechFamiliesChoices[i]
                                 familySet = True
                                 break
@@ -1295,13 +1296,22 @@ class CthulhuSetupGUI(cthulhu_gtkbuilder.GtkBuilderWrapper):
         if not familySet:
             tokens = ["PREFERENCES DIALOG: Could not find speech family match for", familyName]
             debug.printTokens(debug.LEVEL_INFO, tokens, True)
-            self.get_widget("speechFamilies").set_active(0)
+            self._setSpeechFamiliesActive(0)
             self.speechFamiliesChoice = self.speechFamiliesChoices[0]
 
         if familySet:
             self.selectedFamilyChoices[self.speechServersChoice,
                     self.speechLanguagesChoice] = i
 
+    def _setSpeechFamiliesActive(self, index):
+        """Sets speechFamilies active index while suppressing preview chatter."""
+
+        self._updatingSpeechFamilies = True
+        try:
+            self.get_widget("speechFamilies").set_active(index)
+        finally:
+            self._updatingSpeechFamilies = False
+
     def _setupFamilies(self):
         """Gets the list of voice variants for the current speech server and
         current language.
@@ -1353,7 +1363,7 @@ class CthulhuSetupGUI(cthulhu_gtkbuilder.GtkBuilderWrapper):
             selectedIndex = self.selectedFamilyChoices[self.speechServersChoice,
                     self.speechLanguagesChoice]
 
-        self.get_widget("speechFamilies").set_active(selectedIndex)
+        self._setSpeechFamiliesActive(selectedIndex)
 
     def _setSpeechLanguagesChoice(self, languageName):
         """Sets the active item in the languages ("Language:") combo box
@@ -2899,21 +2909,51 @@ class CthulhuSetupGUI(cthulhu_gtkbuilder.GtkBuilderWrapper):
         self.get_widget("enableDiacriticalKeysCheckButton").set_sensitive( \
           enable)
 
-    def _presentMessage(self, text, interrupt=False):
+    def _presentMessage(self, text, interrupt=False, voice=None):
         """If the text field is not None, presents the given text, optionally
         interrupting anything currently being spoken.
 
         Arguments:
         - text: the text to present
         - interrupt: if True, interrupt any speech currently being spoken
+        - voice: the voice to use; if None, use the default system voice
         """
 
-        self.script.speakMessage(text, interrupt=interrupt)
+        self.script.speakMessage(text, voice=voice, interrupt=interrupt)
         try:
             self.script.displayBrailleMessage(text, flashTime=-1)
         except Exception:
             pass
 
+    def _previewVoiceSelection(self, voiceType, name):
+        """Present a short preview in the currently selected voice."""
+
+        if not name:
+            return
+
+        voice = self._getACSSForVoiceType(voiceType)
+        if not voice:
+            return
+
+        previewVoice = acss.ACSS(voice)
+        if self.speechSystemsChoice \
+           and self.speechSystemsChoice.SpeechServer.getFactoryName() == guilabels.SPEECH_DISPATCHER:
+            previewMessage = messages.SPEECH_VOICE_VALUE % name
+        else:
+            previewMessage = messages.SPEECH_VOICE_VALUE_GENERIC % name
+
+        # Speak through the currently-selected preferences speech server so
+        # preview uses the chosen module/voice, not the globally-active one.
+        server = self.speechServersChoice
+        if server and hasattr(server, "speak"):
+            try:
+                server.speak(previewMessage, previewVoice, interrupt=True)
+                return
+            except Exception:
+                debug.printException(debug.LEVEL_WARNING)
+
+        self._presentMessage(previewMessage, interrupt=True, voice=previewVoice)
+
     def _createNode(self, appName):
         """Create a new root node in the TreeStore model with the name of the
             application.
@@ -3316,6 +3356,8 @@ class CthulhuSetupGUI(cthulhu_gtkbuilder.GtkBuilderWrapper):
             variant = family[speechserver.VoiceFamily.VARIANT]
             voiceType = self.get_widget("voiceTypesCombo").get_active()
             self._setFamilyNameForVoiceType(voiceType, name, language, dialect, variant)
+            if not self._updatingSpeechFamilies:
+                self._previewVoiceSelection(voiceType, name)
         except Exception:
             debug.printException(debug.LEVEL_SEVERE)
 
diff --git a/src/cthulhu/speech_and_verbosity_manager.py b/src/cthulhu/speech_and_verbosity_manager.py
index 3feb57a..5ff8a6d 100644
--- a/src/cthulhu/speech_and_verbosity_manager.py
+++ b/src/cthulhu/speech_and_verbosity_manager.py
@@ -368,7 +368,11 @@ class SpeechAndVerbosityManager:
         if family is None:
             default_voice.pop(acss.ACSS.FAMILY, None)
         else:
-            default_voice[acss.ACSS.FAMILY] = dict(family)
+            family_dict = {
+                key: value for key, value in dict(family).items()
+                if value is not None
+            }
+            default_voice[acss.ACSS.FAMILY] = family_dict
         default_voice['established'] = True
 
     def _get_current_speech_setting(self):
@@ -581,7 +585,7 @@ class SpeechAndVerbosityManager:
             message = ""
 
         if message:
-            voice = self._get_default_voice() if setting == "voice" else None
+            voice = self._get_default_voice() if setting in ("voice", "module") else None
             self._present_message(script, message, voice=voice)
 
     @dbus_service.command
@@ -698,7 +702,11 @@ class SpeechAndVerbosityManager:
         else:
             self._set_default_voice_family({})
 
-        self._present_message(script, messages.SPEECH_MODULE_VALUE % new_module)
+        self._present_message(
+            script,
+            messages.SPEECH_MODULE_VALUE % new_module,
+            voice=self._get_default_voice(),
+        )
         return True
 
     def _adjust_voice(self, script, decrease):