diff --git a/src/robot_interface/endpoints/actuation_receiver.py b/src/robot_interface/endpoints/actuation_receiver.py
index 722bdf1..79a38ef 100644
--- a/src/robot_interface/endpoints/actuation_receiver.py
+++ b/src/robot_interface/endpoints/actuation_receiver.py
@@ -44,17 +44,17 @@ class ActuationReceiver(ReceiverBase):
             return None
 
     def _handle_speech(self, message):
-        if not self._qi_session: return
-
-        if not self._tts_service:
-            self._tts_service = self._qi_session.service("ALTextToSpeech")
-
         text = message.get("data")
         if not text:
             logging.warn("Received message to speak, but it lacks data.")
             return
 
-        logging.debug("Speaking received message: {}".format(text))
+        logging.debug("Received message to speak: {}".format(text))
+
+        if not self._qi_session: return
+
+        if not self._tts_service:
+            self._tts_service = self._qi_session.service("ALTextToSpeech")
 
         self._tts_service.say(text)