diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 61faf5e..931d0ed 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -2,26 +2,19 @@ CC = cc
 INSTALL = /usr/bin/install
 RM = /bin/rm -f
 
-PREFIX = /usr
-BINDIR = $(PREFIX)/bin
-
-LDLIBS = -lespeak
-
 SRCS = \
 	espeakup.c  \
+	queue.c \
 		softsynth.c \
 	synth.c
 
 OBJS = $(SRCS:.c=.o)
 
-ifeq ("$(origin TAG)", "command line")
-TIMESTAMP := _p$(shell date +%Y%m%d)
-endif
+CFLAGS = -ggdb
+LDLIBS = -lespeak
 
-VERSION := $(shell grep 'Version.*=' espeakup.c | sed 's/.*"\(.*\)";/\1/')
-TAG := v$(VERSION)
-TARPREFIX := espeakup-$(VERSION)
-TARFILE := $(TARPREFIX)$(TIMESTAMP).tar
+PREFIX = /usr
+BINDIR = $(PREFIX)/bin
 
 all: espeakup
 
@@ -37,6 +30,15 @@ distclean: clean
 
 espeakup: $(OBJS)
 
+ifeq ("$(origin TAG)", "command line")
+TIMESTAMP := _p$(shell date +%Y%m%d)
+endif
+
+VERSION := $(shell grep 'Version.*=' espeakup.c | sed 's/.*"\(.*\)";/\1/')
+TAG := v$(VERSION)
+TARPREFIX := espeakup-$(VERSION)
+TARFILE := $(TARPREFIX)$(TIMESTAMP).tar
+
 tarball:
 	git archive --format=tar --prefix=$(TARPREFIX)/ $(TAG) > $(TARFILE)
 	tar f $(TARFILE) --delete $(TARPREFIX)/.gitignore 
diff --git a/espeakup.c b/espeakup.c
index a37e214..70f337a 100644
--- a/espeakup.c
+++ b/espeakup.c
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ const char *shortOptions = "dhv";
 /* path to our pid file */
 const char *pidPath = "/var/run/espeakup.pid";
 
+/* default voice settings */
+const int defaultFrequency = 5;
+const int defaultPitch = 5;
+const int defaultRate = 5;
+const int defaultVolume = 5;
+
 int debug = 0;
 
 int espeakup_is_running(void)
@@ -123,13 +129,7 @@ void process_cli(int argc, char **argv)
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-	struct synth_t s = {
-		.frequency = 5,
-		.pitch = 5,
-		.rate = 5,
-		.voice = "default",
-		.volume = 5,
-	};
+	struct synth_t s;
 
 	/* process command line options */
 	process_cli(argc, argv);
@@ -158,11 +158,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	espeak_SetSynthCallback(SynthCallback);
 
 	/* Setup initial voice parameters */
-	set_voice(&s);
-	set_frequency (&s);
-	set_pitch (&s);
-	set_rate (&s);
-	set_volume(&s);
+	set_frequency (&s, defaultFrequency, ADJ_SET);
+	set_pitch (&s, defaultPitch, ADJ_SET);
+	set_rate (&s, defaultRate, ADJ_SET);
+	set_volume(&s, defaultVolume, ADJ_SET);
 
 	/* register signal handler */
 	signal(SIGINT, espeakup_sighandler);
diff --git a/espeakup.h b/espeakup.h
index f0a0de1..90efc9a 100644
--- a/espeakup.h
+++ b/espeakup.h
@@ -22,6 +22,23 @@
 
 #include <espeak/speak_lib.h>
 
+enum command_t {
+	CMD_SET_FREQUENCY,
+	CMD_SET_PITCH,
+	CMD_SET_RATE,
+	CMD_SET_VOICE,
+	CMD_SET_VOLUME,
+	CMD_SPEAK_TEXT,
+	CMD_FLUSH,
+	CMD_UNKNOWN,
+};
+
+enum adjust_t {
+	ADJ_DEC,
+	ADJ_SET,
+	ADJ_INC,
+};
+
 struct synth_t {
 	int frequency;
 	int pitch;
@@ -35,11 +52,11 @@ struct synth_t {
 extern int debug;
 
 extern int SynthCallback(short *wav, int numsamples, espeak_EVENT *events);
-extern espeak_ERROR set_frequency (struct synth_t *s);
-extern espeak_ERROR set_pitch (struct synth_t *s);
-extern espeak_ERROR set_rate (struct synth_t *s);
+extern espeak_ERROR set_frequency(struct synth_t *s, int freq, enum adjust_t adj);
+extern espeak_ERROR set_pitch (struct synth_t *s, int pitch, enum adjust_t adj);
+extern espeak_ERROR set_rate (struct synth_t *s, int rate, enum adjust_t adj);
 extern espeak_ERROR set_voice(struct synth_t *s);
-extern espeak_ERROR set_volume (struct synth_t *s);
+extern espeak_ERROR set_volume (struct synth_t *s, int vol, enum adjust_t adj);
 extern espeak_ERROR stop_speech(void);
 extern espeak_ERROR speak_text(struct synth_t *s);
 extern void open_softsynth(void);
diff --git a/queue.c b/queue.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70d3a33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/queue.c
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+/*
+ *  espeakup - interface which allows speakup to use espeak
+ *
+ *  Copyright (C) 2008 William Hubbs
+ *
+ *  This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ *  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ *  the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ *  (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ *   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ *   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ *   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ *   GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ *   along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#include "espeakup.h"
+
+struct queue_entry_t {
+	enum command_t cmd;
+	enum adjust_t adjust;
+	int value;
+	char *buf;
+	int len;
+	struct queue_entry_t *next;
+};
+
+static struct queue_entry_t *first = NULL;
+static struct queue_entry_t *last = NULL;
+
+static void queue_add(struct queue_entry_t *entry)
+{
+	assert(entry);
+	entry->next = NULL;
+	if (! last)
+		last = entry;
+	if (! first) {
+		first = entry;
+	} else {
+		first->next = entry;
+		first = first->next;
+	}
+}
+
+static void queue_remove(void)
+{
+	struct queue_entry_t *temp;
+
+	assert(last);
+	temp = last;
+	last = temp->next;
+	if (temp->cmd == CMD_SPEAK_TEXT)
+		free(temp->buf);
+	free(temp);
+	if (! last)
+		first = last;
+}
+
+void queue_clear(void)
+{
+	while(last)
+		queue_remove();
+}
+
+void queue_add_cmd(enum command_t cmd, enum adjust_t adj, int value)
+{
+	struct queue_entry_t *entry;
+
+	entry = malloc(sizeof(struct queue_entry_t));
+	if (! entry) {
+		perror("unable to allocate memory for queue entry");
+		return;
+	}
+	entry->cmd = cmd;
+	entry->adjust = adj;
+	entry->value = value;
+	queue_add(entry);
+}
+
+void queue_add_text(char *txt, size_t length)
+{
+	struct queue_entry_t *entry;
+
+	entry = malloc(sizeof(struct queue_entry_t));
+	if (! entry) {
+		perror("unable to allocate memory for queue entry");
+		return;
+	}
+	entry->cmd = CMD_SPEAK_TEXT;
+	entry->adjust = ADJ_SET;
+	entry->buf = strdup(txt);
+	if (! entry->buf) {
+		perror("unable to allocate space for text");
+		free(entry);
+		return;
+	}
+	entry->len = length;
+	queue_add(entry);
+}
+
+void queue_process_entry(struct synth_t *s)
+{
+	espeak_ERROR error;
+
+	if(! last)
+		return;
+
+	switch (last->cmd) {
+	case CMD_SET_FREQUENCY:
+		error = set_frequency(s, last->value, last->adjust);
+		break;
+	case CMD_SET_PITCH:
+		error = set_pitch(s, last->value, last->adjust);
+		break;
+	case CMD_SET_RATE:
+		error = set_rate(s, last->value, last->adjust);
+		break;
+	case CMD_SET_VOICE:
+		break;
+	case CMD_SET_VOLUME:
+		error = set_volume(s, last->value, last->adjust);
+		break;
+	case CMD_SPEAK_TEXT:
+		s->buf = last->buf;
+		s->len = last->len;
+		error = speak_text(s);
+		break;
+	}
+	if (error == EE_OK)
+		queue_remove();
+}
diff --git a/softsynth.c b/softsynth.c
index 55ae171..50ec96b 100644
--- a/softsynth.c
+++ b/softsynth.c
@@ -26,72 +26,74 @@
 #include "espeakup.h"
 
 /* max buffer size */
-const int maxBufferSize = 1025;
+const size_t maxBufferSize = 1025;
 
 static int softFD = 0;
 
 static int process_command(struct synth_t *s, char *buf, int start)
 {
-	int rc;
-	char value;
-	char param;
+	char *cp;
+	int value;
+	enum adjust_t adj;
+	enum command_t cmd;
 	
-	rc = 1;
-	switch (buf[start]) {
+	cp = buf+start;
+	switch (*cp) {
 	case 1:
-		if (buf[start+1] == '+' || buf[start+1] == '-') {
-			value = buf[start+2]-'0';
-			param = buf[start+3];
-			if (buf[start+1] == '-')
-				value = -value;
-			switch (param) {
-			case 'f':
-				s->frequency += value;
-				set_frequency (s);
-				break;
-			case 'p':
-				s->pitch += value;
-				set_pitch (s);
-				break;
-			case 's':
-				s->rate += value;
-				set_rate (s);
-				break;
-			case 'v':
-				s->volume += value;
-				set_volume (s);
-				break;
-			}
-			rc = 4;
-		} else if (buf[start+1] >= '0' && buf[start+1] <= '9') {
-			value = buf[start+1]-'0';
-			param = buf[start+2];
-			switch (param) {
-			case 'f':
-				s->frequency = value;
-				set_frequency (s);
-				break;
-			case 'p':
-				s->pitch = value;
-				set_pitch (s);
-				break;
-			case 's':
-				s->rate = value;
-				set_rate (s);
-				break;
-			case 'v':
-				s->volume = value;
-				set_volume (s);
-				break;
-			}
+		cp++;
+		switch (*cp) {
+		case '+':
+			adj = ADJ_INC;
+			cp++;
+			break;
+		case '-':
+			adj = ADJ_DEC;
+			cp++;
+			break;
+		default:
+			adj = ADJ_SET;
+			break;
+		}
+
+		value = 0;
+		while(isdigit(*cp)) {
+			value = value * 10 + (*cp - '0');
+			cp++;
+		}
+
+		switch (*cp) {
+		case 'f':
+			cmd = CMD_SET_FREQUENCY;
+			cp++;
+			break;
+		case 'p':
+			cmd = CMD_SET_PITCH;
+			cp++;
+			break;
+		case 's':
+			cmd = CMD_SET_RATE;
+			cp++;
+			break;
+		case 'v':
+			cmd = CMD_SET_VOLUME;
+			cp++;
+			break;
 		}
-		rc = 3;
 		break;
 	case 24:
+		cmd = CMD_FLUSH;
 		stop_speech();
+		queue_clear();
+		cp++;
+		break;
+	default:
+		cmd = CMD_UNKNOWN;
+		cp++;
 		break;
 	}
-	return rc;
+	if (cmd != CMD_FLUSH && cmd != CMD_UNKNOWN)
+		queue_add_cmd(cmd, adj, value);
+	return cp - (buf + start);
 }
 
 static void process_buffer (struct synth_t *s, char *buf, size_t length)
@@ -110,9 +112,7 @@ static void process_buffer (struct synth_t *s, char *buf, size_t length)
 			txtLen = end-start;
 			strncpy (txtBuf, buf + start, txtLen);
 			*(txtBuf+txtLen) = 0;
-			s->buf = txtBuf;
-			s->len = txtLen;
-			speak_text(s);
+			queue_add_text(txtBuf, txtLen);
 		}
 		if (end < length)
 			start = end = end+process_command (s, buf, end);
@@ -141,11 +141,13 @@ void main_loop (struct synth_t *s)
 	int i;
 	size_t length;
 	char buf[maxBufferSize];
+	struct timeval tv = {0, 0};
 	
 	while (1) {
+		queue_process_entry(s);
 		FD_ZERO (&set);
 		FD_SET (softFD, &set);
-		i = select (softFD+1, &set, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+		i = select (softFD+1, &set, NULL, NULL, &tv);
 		if (i < 0) {
 			if (errno == EINTR)
 				continue;
@@ -153,8 +155,12 @@ void main_loop (struct synth_t *s)
 			break;
 		}
 
+		if (! FD_ISSET(softFD, &set))
+			continue;
 		length = read (softFD, buf, maxBufferSize - 1);
 		if (length < 0) {
+			if (errno == EAGAIN || errno == EINTR)
+				continue;
 			perror("Read from softsynth failed");
 			break;
 		}
diff --git a/synth.c b/synth.c
index 7e34a63..1a83405 100644
--- a/synth.c
+++ b/synth.c
@@ -31,19 +31,46 @@ int SynthCallback(short *wav, int numsamples, espeak_EVENT *events)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-espeak_ERROR set_frequency (struct synth_t *s)
+espeak_ERROR set_frequency (struct synth_t *s, int freq, enum adjust_t adj)
 {
-	return (espeak_SetParameter(espeakRANGE, s->frequency * frequencyMultiplier, 0));
+	espeak_ERROR rc;
+
+	if (adj == ADJ_DEC)
+		freq = -freq;
+	if (adj != ADJ_SET)
+		freq += s->frequency;
+	rc = espeak_SetParameter(espeakRANGE, freq * frequencyMultiplier, 0);
+	if (rc == EE_OK)
+		s->frequency = freq;
+	return rc;
 }
 
-espeak_ERROR set_pitch (struct synth_t *s)
+espeak_ERROR set_pitch (struct synth_t *s, int pitch, enum adjust_t adj)
 {
-	return (espeak_SetParameter(espeakPITCH, s->pitch * pitchMultiplier, 0));
+	espeak_ERROR rc;
+
+	if (adj == ADJ_DEC)
+		pitch = -pitch;
+	if (adj != ADJ_SET)
+		pitch += s->pitch;
+	rc = espeak_SetParameter(espeakPITCH, pitch * pitchMultiplier, 0);
+	if (rc == EE_OK)
+		s->pitch = pitch;
+	return rc;
 }
 
-espeak_ERROR set_rate (struct synth_t *s)
+espeak_ERROR set_rate (struct synth_t *s, int rate, enum adjust_t adj)
 {
-	return (espeak_SetParameter(espeakRATE, s->rate * rateMultiplier + rateOffset, 0));
+	espeak_ERROR rc;
+
+	if (adj == ADJ_DEC)
+		rate = -rate;
+	if (adj != ADJ_SET)
+		rate += s->rate;
+	rc = espeak_SetParameter(espeakRATE, rate * rateMultiplier + rateOffset, 0);
+	if (rc == EE_OK)
+		s->rate = rate;
+	return rc;
 }
 
 espeak_ERROR set_voice(struct synth_t *s)
@@ -51,9 +78,14 @@ espeak_ERROR set_voice(struct synth_t *s)
 	return (espeak_SetVoiceByName(s->voice));
 }
 
-espeak_ERROR set_volume (struct synth_t *s)
+espeak_ERROR set_volume (struct synth_t *s, int vol, enum adjust_t adj)
 {
-	return (espeak_SetParameter(espeakVOLUME, (s->volume+1) * volumeMultiplier, 0));
+	espeak_ERROR rc;
+
+
+	rc = espeak_SetParameter(espeakVOLUME, (vol+1) * volumeMultiplier, 0);
+	if (rc == EE_OK)
+		s->volume = vol;
 }
 
 espeak_ERROR stop_speech(void)