diff --git a/code/modules/mob/hear_say.dm b/code/modules/mob/hear_say.dm
index 7ccffd0fc0..221863ce3c 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/hear_say.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/hear_say.dm
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
 			src << "<span class='name'>[speaker_name]</span>[alt_name] talks but you cannot hear \him."
 	else
 		src << "<span class='game say'><span class='name'>[speaker_name]</span>[alt_name] [track][verb], <span class='message'><span class='[style]'>\"[message]\"</span></span></span>"
-		if (speech_sound && !istype(src, /mob/dead/observer))
+		if (speech_sound && (get_dist(speaker, src) <= world.view && src.z == speaker.z))
 			var/turf/source = speaker? get_turf(speaker) : get_turf(src)
 			src.playsound_local(source, speech_sound, sound_vol, 1)