diff --git a/cli.c b/cli.c
index 50d61f7..8b5c2a4 100644
--- a/cli.c
+++ b/cli.c
@@ -20,15 +20,20 @@
 #include <getopt.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
 
 #include "espeakup.h"
 
 /* program version */
 extern const char *Version;
 
+/* default voice */
+extern char *defaultVoice;
+
 /* command line options */
-const char *shortOptions = "dhv";
+const char *shortOptions = "dhV:v";
 const struct option longOptions[] = {
+	{"default-voice", required_argument, NULL, 'V'},
 	{"debug", no_argument, NULL, 'd'},
 	{"help", no_argument, NULL, 'h'},
 	{"version", no_argument, NULL, 'v'},
@@ -61,6 +66,9 @@ void process_cli(int argc, char **argv)
 	do {
 		opt = getopt_long(argc, argv, shortOptions, longOptions, NULL);
 		switch (opt) {
+		case 'V':
+			defaultVoice = strdup(optarg);
+			break;
 		case 'd':
 			debug = 1;
 			break;
diff --git a/espeakup.c b/espeakup.c
index 9f1ff05..7b8f8f5 100644
--- a/espeakup.c
+++ b/espeakup.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ const int defaultPitch = 5;
 const int defaultRate = 5;
 const int defaultVolume = 5;
 
+char *defaultVoice = NULL;
 int debug = 0;
 
 int espeakup_is_running(void)
@@ -120,6 +121,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	espeak_Initialize(AUDIO_OUTPUT_PLAYBACK, 0, NULL, 0);
 
 	/* Setup initial voice parameters */
+	if (defaultVoice) {
+		set_voice(&s, defaultVoice);
+		free(defaultVoice);
+		defaultVoice = NULL;
+	}
 	set_frequency(&s, defaultFrequency, ADJ_SET);
 	set_pitch(&s, defaultPitch, ADJ_SET);
 	set_rate(&s, defaultRate, ADJ_SET);