diff --git a/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/speechDriver.py b/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/speechDriver.py
index 321ed950..ca37f5d9 100644
--- a/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/speechDriver.py
+++ b/src/fenrirscreenreader/core/speechDriver.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ from fenrirscreenreader.core import debug
 
 class speechDriver():
     def __init__(self):
+        pass
+    def initialize(self, environment):
         self._isInitialized = False
         self.language = None
         self.voice = None
@@ -15,14 +17,12 @@ class speechDriver():
         self.pitch = None
         self.rate = None
         self.volume = None
-    def initialize(self, environment):
         self.env = environment
-        self._isInitialized = True        
-        
+        self._isInitialized = True
     def shutdown(self):
         if self._isInitialized:
             self.cancel()
-        self._isInitialized = False            
+        self._isInitialized = False
 
     def speak(self,text, queueable=True):
         if not self._isInitialized:
@@ -32,11 +32,11 @@ class speechDriver():
     
     def cancel(self):
         if not self._isInitialized:
-            return     
+            return
 
     def setCallback(self, callback):
         if not self._isInitialized:
-            return        
+            return
         if not callback:
             return
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class speechDriver():
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return
         if voice == '':
-            return            
+            return
         self.voice = voice 
 
     def setPitch(self, pitch):
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class speechDriver():
         if not isinstance(module, str):
             return
         if module == '':
-            return            
+            return
         self.module = module
     def reset(self):
         self.shutdown()
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class speechDriver():
         if not isinstance(language, str):
             return
         if language == '':
-            return            
+            return
         self.language = language 
     def setVolume(self, volume):
         if not self._isInitialized:
diff --git a/src/fenrirscreenreader/speechDriver/speechdDriver.py b/src/fenrirscreenreader/speechDriver/speechdDriver.py
index 90a33689..c02ed51c 100644
--- a/src/fenrirscreenreader/speechDriver/speechdDriver.py
+++ b/src/fenrirscreenreader/speechDriver/speechdDriver.py
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ class driver(speechDriver):
     def initialize(self, environment):
         self._sd = None
         self.env = environment
+        self._isInitialized = False
+        self.language = ''
+        self.voice = ''
+        self.module = ''
         try:
             import speechd 
             self._sd =  speechd.SSIPClient('fenrir')
@@ -29,7 +33,7 @@ class driver(speechDriver):
         self.cancel()
         try:
             self._sd.close()
-        except:
+        except Exception as e:
             pass
         self._isInitialized = False
 
@@ -44,17 +48,20 @@ class driver(speechDriver):
                 return
 
         try:
-            self._sd.set_output_module(self.module)
+            if self.module != '':
+                self._sd.set_output_module(self.module)
         except Exception as e:
             self.env['runtime']['debug'].writeDebugOut('speechDriver setModule:' + str(e),debug.debugLevel.ERROR)
 
         try:
-            self._sd.set_language(self.language)
+            if self.language != '':
+                self._sd.set_language(self.language)
         except Exception as e:
             self.env['runtime']['debug'].writeDebugOut('speechDriver set_language:' + str(e),debug.debugLevel.ERROR)
 
         try:
-            self._sd.set_synthesis_voice(self.voice)
+            if self.voice != '':
+                self._sd.set_synthesis_voice(self.voice)
         except Exception as e:
             self.env['runtime']['debug'].writeDebugOut('speechDriver setVoice:' + str(e),debug.debugLevel.ERROR)
 
@@ -71,7 +78,9 @@ class driver(speechDriver):
 
     def cancel(self):
         if not self._isInitialized:
-            return
+            self.initialize(self.env)
+            if not self._isInitialized:
+                return
         try:
             self._sd.cancel()
         except Exception as e: