diff --git a/src/sugar3/speech.py b/src/sugar3/speech.py
index 9edf0b06..b62031c6 100644
--- a/src/sugar3/speech.py
+++ b/src/sugar3/speech.py
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ class _GstSpeechPlayer(GObject.GObject):
     }
 
     def __init__(self):
+        Gst.init(None)
         GObject.GObject.__init__(self)
         self._pipeline = None
         self._all_voices = None