diff --git a/bom/pom.xml b/bom/pom.xml
index d8cdfce52..67ab9f038 100644
--- a/bom/pom.xml
+++ b/bom/pom.xml
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@
       <dependency>
         <groupId>org.daisy.pipeline.modules</groupId>
         <artifactId>tts-adapter-espeak</artifactId>
-        <version>3.0.12</version>
+        <version>3.0.13-SNAPSHOT</version>
       </dependency>
       <dependency>
         <groupId>org.daisy.pipeline.modules</groupId>
diff --git a/tts/tts-adapters/tts-adapter-espeak/src/main/java/org/daisy/pipeline/tts/espeak/impl/ESpeakEngine.java b/tts/tts-adapters/tts-adapter-espeak/src/main/java/org/daisy/pipeline/tts/espeak/impl/ESpeakEngine.java
index 6315107f2..608894b1f 100644
--- a/tts/tts-adapters/tts-adapter-espeak/src/main/java/org/daisy/pipeline/tts/espeak/impl/ESpeakEngine.java
+++ b/tts/tts-adapters/tts-adapter-espeak/src/main/java/org/daisy/pipeline/tts/espeak/impl/ESpeakEngine.java
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import java.util.IllformedLocaleException;
 import java.util.Locale;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.Scanner;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.regex.Matcher;
@@ -118,7 +119,9 @@ public Collection<Voice> getAvailableVoices() throws SynthesisException,
 			// Second: get the list of the voices for the found languages.
 			// White spaces are not allowed in voice names
 			result = new ArrayList<Voice>();
-			Matcher mr = Pattern.compile("^\\s*[0-9]+\\s+(?<locale>[-a-z]+)\\s+(?<gender>[FfMm-]\\s+)?(?<name>[^ ]+)").matcher("");
+			Matcher mr = Pattern.compile(
+				"^\\s*[0-9]+\\s+(?<locale>[-a-zA-Z0-9]+)\\s+((--/)?(?<gender>[FfMm-])\\s+)?(?<name>[^ ]+)"
+			).matcher("");
 			for (String lang : languages) {
 				new CommandRunner(mESpeakPath, "--voices=" + lang)
 					.consumeOutput(stream -> {
@@ -131,7 +134,7 @@ public Collection<Voice> getAvailableVoices() throws SynthesisException,
 										String name = mr.group("name");
 										try {
 											Locale locale = (new Locale.Builder()).setLanguageTag(mr.group("locale").replace("_", "-")).build();
-											Gender gender = "f".equals(mr.group("gender").trim().toLowerCase())
+											Gender gender = "f".equals(Optional.ofNullable(mr.group("gender")).orElse("m").toLowerCase())
 												? Gender.FEMALE_ADULT
 												: Gender.MALE_ADULT;
 											result.add(new Voice(getProvider().getName(), name, locale, gender));