diff --git a/src/cli.c b/src/cli.c
index 8f8b471..634c208 100644
--- a/src/cli.c
+++ b/src/cli.c
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@ extern int alsaVolume;
 
 /* default volume */
 extern int defaultVolume;
-extern int volumeSet;
+extern int volumeOffset;
+extern int alsaVolumeOffset;
+extern int volumeMultiplier;
 /* command line options */
 const char *shortOptions = "P:V:adhv";
 const struct option longOptions[] = {
@@ -101,13 +103,14 @@ void process_cli(int argc, char **argv)
 			show_version();
 			break;
 		case 'x':
-			volumeSet = 1;
-			defaultVolume = atoi(optarg);
-			if (defaultVolume < 1 || defaultVolume > 150) {
+			alsaVolumeOffset = volumeOffset = atoi(optarg);
+			if (volumeOffset < 1 || volumeOffset > 150) {
 				fprintf(stderr, "WARNING: Volume must be between 1 and 150\n");
-				volumeSet = 0;
+				volumeOffset = 0;
 			}
-			break;
+                        alsaVolumeOffset -= (defaultVolume + 1) * 50 / 10 + 50;
+                        volumeOffset -= (defaultVolume + 1) * volumeMultiplier;
+                        break;
 		case -1:
 		case 0:
 			break;
diff --git a/src/espeak.c b/src/espeak.c
index aeaac74..151c31a 100644
--- a/src/espeak.c
+++ b/src/espeak.c
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ const int defaultPitch = 5;
 const int defaultRange = 5;
 const int defaultRate = 2;
 int defaultVolume = 5;
-int volumeSet = 0;
+int volumeOffset = 0;
+int alsaVolumeOffset = 0;
 char *defaultVoice = NULL;
 int alsaVolume = 0;
 
@@ -203,11 +204,10 @@ static void set_alsa_volume(int vol)
 	 * volume (80%), and make higher values increase ALSA volume, up to
 	 * 100%. */
 
-	int volume = (vol + 1) * 50 / 10 + 50;
-	/*lock the volume to the user-set volume if specified*/
-	if(volumeSet){
-		volume = defaultVolume;
-	}
+	int volume = (vol + 1) * 50 / 10 + 50 + alsaVolumeOffset;
+
+	if(volume < 0)
+		volume = 0;
 
 	for (e = snd_mixer_first_elem(m); e; e = snd_mixer_elem_next(e)) {
 		if (snd_mixer_elem_get_type(e) != SND_MIXER_ELEM_SIMPLE)
@@ -250,20 +250,19 @@ static void set_alsa_volume(int vol)
 static espeak_ERROR set_volume(struct synth_t *s, int vol, enum adjust_t adj)
 {
 	espeak_ERROR rc;
-
+	int espeakVolume;
 
 	if (adj == ADJ_DEC)
 		vol = -vol;
 	if (adj != ADJ_SET)
 		vol += s->volume;
 
-	/*lock the volume to the user-set volume if specified*/
-	if (volumeSet) {
-		rc = espeak_SetParameter(espeakVOLUME, defaultVolume, 0);
-	}
-	else {
-		rc = espeak_SetParameter(espeakVOLUME, (vol + 1) * volumeMultiplier, 0);
-	}
+	espeakVolume = (vol + 1) * volumeMultiplier + volumeOffset;
+	if(espeakVolume < 0)
+		espeakVolume = 0;
+	
+	rc = espeak_SetParameter(espeakVOLUME, espeakVolume, 0);
+
 	if (rc == EE_OK) {
 		s->volume = vol;
 		if (alsaVolume)