diff --git a/lib/tts-providers/aws-polly.js b/lib/tts-providers/aws-polly.js
index bd7aa35e..8d324170 100644
--- a/lib/tts-providers/aws-polly.js
+++ b/lib/tts-providers/aws-polly.js
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ function polly(phrase, voiceName) {
   // Construct a filesystem neutral filename
   const dynamicParameters = { Text: phrase };
   const synthesizeParameters = Object.assign({}, DEFAULT_SETTINGS, dynamicParameters);
+  if (phrase.startsWith('<speak>') && phrase.endsWith('</speak>')) {
+    synthesizeParameters.TextType = 'ssml';
+  }
   if (settings.aws.name) {
     synthesizeParameters.VoiceId = settings.aws.name;
   }