diff --git a/qt/aqt/sound.py b/qt/aqt/sound.py
index 0b0c5be8c..fcebb3662 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/sound.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/sound.py
@@ -639,10 +639,6 @@ def setup_audio(taskman: TaskManager, base_folder: str) -> None:
         mplayer = SimpleMplayerSlaveModePlayer(taskman)
         av_player.players.append(mplayer)
 
-    # currently unused
-    # mpv = SimpleMpvPlayer(base_folder)
-    # av_player.players.append(mpv)
-
     # tts support
     if isMac:
         from aqt.tts import MacTTSPlayer
diff --git a/qt/aqt/tts.py b/qt/aqt/tts.py
index a78300e31..66dee8cbc 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/tts.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/tts.py
@@ -472,9 +472,14 @@ if isWin:
         return LCIDS.get(dec_str, "unknown")
 
     class WindowsTTSPlayer(TTSProcessPlayer):
-        speaker = win32com.client.Dispatch("SAPI.SpVoice")
+        try:
+            speaker = win32com.client.Dispatch("SAPI.SpVoice")
+        except:
+            speaker = None
 
         def get_available_voices(self) -> List[TTSVoice]:
+            if self.speaker is None:
+                return []
             return list(map(self._voice_to_object, self.speaker.GetVoices()))
 
         def _voice_to_object(self, voice: Any):