diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tts/linux.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tts/linux.py
index 65a82bffaf..1945635c16 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tts/linux.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tts/linux.py
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ class Client:
             self.create_ssip_client()
         if self.system_default_output_module is None:
             self.system_default_output_module = self.ssip_client.get_output_module()
+            if self.system_default_output_module == '(null)':
+                raise ValueError('Speech dispatcher on this system is not configured with any available voices. Install some voices first.')
         if not self.settings_applied:
             self.apply_settings()
         self.set_use_ssml(use_ssml)