diff --git a/src/fenrir/core/settings.py b/src/fenrir/core/settings.py
index f4c6780a..6d092ad5 100644
--- a/src/fenrir/core/settings.py
+++ b/src/fenrir/core/settings.py
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ settings = {
     'capitalPitch':0.8,
     'volume': 1.0,    
     'module': 'espeak',
-    'voice': 'en',
-    'language': 'en',
+    'voice': '',
+    'language': 'english-us',
     'autoReadIncoming': True,
 },
 'braille':{
diff --git a/src/fenrir/speechDriver/espeak.py b/src/fenrir/speechDriver/espeak.py
index dd3c75ed..0bae1503 100644
--- a/src/fenrir/speechDriver/espeak.py
+++ b/src/fenrir/speechDriver/espeak.py
@@ -50,18 +50,20 @@ class driver():
     def setVoice(self, voice):
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
+        if voice =='':
+            return False            
         return self._es.set_voice(voice)
 
     def setPitch(self, pitch):
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
-
+        return self._es.set_parameter(self._es.Parameter().Pitch, int(pitch * 99)) 
+        
     def setRate(self, rate):
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
         return self._es.set_parameter(self._es.Parameter().Rate, int(rate*450 + 80))
 
-        return self._es.set_parameter(self._es.Parameter().Pitch, int(pitch * 99)) 
     def setModule(self, module):
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
@@ -69,6 +71,8 @@ class driver():
     def setLanguage(self, language):
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
+        if language =='':
+            return False
         return self._es.set_voice(language)
 
     def setVolume(self, volume):