diff --git a/code/modules/mob/hear_say.dm b/code/modules/mob/hear_say.dm
index 221863ce3c..05ea07dd01 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/hear_say.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/hear_say.dm
@@ -8,7 +8,19 @@
 			//Does the speaker have a client?  It's either random stuff that observers won't care about (Experiment 97B says, 'EHEHEHEHEHEHEHE')
 			//Or someone snoring.  So we make it where they won't hear it.
 		return
-
+	
+	//make sure the air can transmit speech - hearer's side
+	var/turf/T = get_turf(src)
+	if (T)
+		var/datum/gas_mixture/environment = T.return_air()
+		var/pressure = (environment)? environment.return_pressure() : 0
+		if(pressure < SOUND_MINIMUM_PRESSURE && get_dist(speaker, src) > 1)
+			return
+			
+		if (pressure < ONE_ATMOSPHERE*0.4) //sound distortion pressure, to help clue people in that the air is thin, even if it isn't a vacuum yet
+			italics = 1
+			sound_vol *= 0.5 //muffle the sound a bit, so it's like we're actually talking through contact
+	
 	if(sleeping || stat == 1)
 		hear_sleep(message)
 		return
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/say.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/say.dm
index 861d436c67..d884eaf3a7 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/say.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/say.dm
@@ -73,22 +73,21 @@ var/list/department_radio_keys = list(
 		if (speaking.flags & SIGNLANG)
 			say_signlang(message, pick(speaking.signlang_verb), speaking)
 			return 1
-
-	//make sure the air can transmit speech
-	var/datum/gas_mixture/environment = T.return_air()
-	if(environment)
-		var/pressure = environment.return_pressure()
-		if(pressure < SOUND_MINIMUM_PRESSURE)
-			italics = 1
-			message_range = 1
-
-			if (speech_sound)
-				sound_vol *= 0.5	//muffle the sound a bit, so it's like we're actually talking through contact
-
+	
 	var/list/listening = list()
 	var/list/listening_obj = list()
 
 	if(T)
+		//make sure the air can transmit speech - speaker's side
+		var/datum/gas_mixture/environment = T.return_air()
+		var/pressure = (environment)? environment.return_pressure() : 0
+		if(pressure < SOUND_MINIMUM_PRESSURE)
+			message_range = 1
+		
+		if (pressure < ONE_ATMOSPHERE*0.4) //sound distortion pressure, to help clue people in that the air is thin, even if it isn't a vacuum yet
+			italics = 1
+			sound_vol *= 0.5 //muffle the sound a bit, so it's like we're actually talking through contact
+	
 		var/list/hear = hear(message_range, T)
 		var/list/hearturfs = list()