diff --git a/lib/synth-audio.js b/lib/synth-audio.js
index 40d7059..5896fe8 100644
--- a/lib/synth-audio.js
+++ b/lib/synth-audio.js
@@ -125,7 +125,8 @@ async function synthAudio(client, logger, stats, { account_sid,
   if (['nuance', 'nvidia'].includes(vendor) ||
     (
       process.env.JAMBONES_TTS_TRIM_SILENCE &&
-      ['microsoft', 'azure'].includes(vendor)
+      ['microsoft', 'azure'].includes(vendor) &&
+      !text.startsWith('<speak')
     )
   ) {
     filePath = `${TMP_FOLDER}/${key.replace('tts:', `tts-${salt || ''}`)}.r8`;