diff --git a/espeakup.c b/espeakup.c
index 65570f0..0eafc2f 100644
--- a/espeakup.c
+++ b/espeakup.c
@@ -104,6 +104,16 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
+/* Initialize espeak */
+	if (initialize_espeak(&s) < 0) {
+		return 2;
+	}
+
+/* open the softsynth */
+	if (open_softsynth() < 0) {
+		return 2;
+	}
+
 	/* set up the pipe used to wake the espeak thread */
 	if (pipe(self_pipe_fds) < 0) {
 		perror("Unable to create pipe");
@@ -142,6 +152,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	pthread_join(softsynth_thread_id, NULL);
 	pthread_join(espeak_thread_id, NULL);
 
+	espeak_Terminate();
 	if ( ! debug)
 		unlink(pidPath);
 	return 0;
diff --git a/espeakup.h b/espeakup.h
index ffe375b..2992aa2 100644
--- a/espeakup.h
+++ b/espeakup.h
@@ -70,8 +70,11 @@ extern void queue_add(void *entry);
 extern void queue_remove(void);
 extern void *queue_peek(void);
 extern void *signal_thread(void *arg);
-extern void *softsynth_thread(void *arg);
+extern int initialize_espeak(struct synth_t *s);
 extern void *espeak_thread(void *arg);
+extern int open_softsynth(void);
+extern void close_softsynth(void);
+extern void *softsynth_thread(void *arg);
 extern void select_audio_mode(void);
 extern int init_audio(unsigned int rate);
 extern void lock_audio_mutex(void);
diff --git a/softsynth.c b/softsynth.c
index d3fe1b1..4472ff4 100644
--- a/softsynth.c
+++ b/softsynth.c
@@ -28,10 +28,12 @@
 #include "espeakup.h"
 
 /* max buffer size */
-const size_t maxBufferSize = 1025;
+static const size_t maxBufferSize = 1025;
 
 /* synth flush character */
-const int synthFlushChar = 0x18;
+static const int synthFlushChar = 0x18;
+
+static int softFD = 0;
 
 static void queue_add_cmd(enum command_t cmd, enum adjust_t adj, int value)
 {
@@ -175,6 +177,24 @@ static void request_espeak_stop(void)
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&queue_guard);
 }
 
+int open_softsynth(void)
+{
+	int rc = 0;
+	/* open the softsynth. */
+	softFD = open("/dev/softsynth", O_RDWR | O_NONBLOCK);
+	if (softFD < 0) {
+		perror("Unable to open the softsynth device");
+		rc = -1;
+	}
+	return rc;
+}
+
+void close_softsynth(void)
+{
+	if (softFD)
+		close(softFD);
+}
+
 void *softsynth_thread(void *arg)
 {
 	struct synth_t *s = (struct synth_t *) arg;
@@ -183,16 +203,8 @@ void *softsynth_thread(void *arg)
 	char buf[maxBufferSize];
 	char *cp;
 	int terminalFD = PIPE_READ_FD;
-	int softFD;
 	int greatestFD;
 
-	/* open the softsynth. */
-	softFD = open("/dev/softsynth", O_RDWR | O_NONBLOCK);
-	if (softFD < 0) {
-		perror("Unable to open the softsynth device");
-		should_run = 0;
-	}
-
 	if (terminalFD > softFD)
 		greatestFD = terminalFD;
 	else
@@ -231,7 +243,5 @@ void *softsynth_thread(void *arg)
 		}
 		process_buffer(s, buf, length);
 	}
-	if (softFD)
-		close(softFD);
 	return NULL;
 }
diff --git a/synth.c b/synth.c
index 58e111b..bcee672 100644
--- a/synth.c
+++ b/synth.c
@@ -206,6 +206,36 @@ static void queue_clear()
 	}
 }
 
+int initialize_espeak(struct synth_t *s)
+{
+	int rate;
+
+	/* initialize espeak */
+	select_audio_mode();
+	rate = espeak_Initialize(audio_mode, 0, NULL, 0);
+	if (rate < 0) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Unable to initialize espeak.\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (init_audio((unsigned int) rate) < 0) {
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	/* 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);
+	set_volume(s, defaultVolume, ADJ_SET);
+	espeak_SetParameter(espeakCAPITALS, 0, 0);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /* espeak_thread is the "main" function of our secondary (queue-processing)
  * thread.
  * First, lock queue_guard, because it needs to be locked when we call
@@ -225,35 +255,9 @@ static void queue_clear()
  * 1. We are waiting on runner_awake, or
  * 2. We are processing an entry that has just been removed from the queue.
 */
-
 void *espeak_thread(void *arg)
 {
 	struct synth_t *s = (struct synth_t *) arg;
-	int rate;
-
-	/* initialize espeak */
-	select_audio_mode();
-	rate = espeak_Initialize(audio_mode, 0, NULL, 0);
-	if (rate < 0) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "Unable to initialize espeak.\n");
-		should_run = 0;
-	}
-
-	if (init_audio((unsigned int) rate) < 0) {
-		should_run = 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);
-	set_volume(s, defaultVolume, ADJ_SET);
-	espeak_SetParameter(espeakCAPITALS, 0, 0);
 
 	pthread_mutex_lock(&queue_guard);
 	while (should_run) {