diff --git a/src/sugar3/speech.py b/src/sugar3/speech.py
index a5936ad1..f0b2bc6e 100644
--- a/src/sugar3/speech.py
+++ b/src/sugar3/speech.py
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ import os
 import logging
 from gettext import gettext as _
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Gtk', '3.0')
+
 from gi.repository import Gio
 from gi.repository import Gtk
 from gi.repository import Gdk
@@ -25,6 +28,7 @@ from gi.repository import GObject
 
 _HAS_GST = True
 try:
+    gi.require_version('Gst', '1.0')
     from gi.repository import Gst
     Gst.init(None)
     Gst.parse_launch('espeak')