diff --git a/pkgs/applications/accessibility/dasher/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/accessibility/dasher/default.nix
index 6e602dc35c33..13dee55628a5 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/accessibility/dasher/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/accessibility/dasher/default.nix
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 , libxslt
 , libxml2
 , speechSupport ? true
-, speechd
+, speechd-minimal
 }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation {
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     # at-spi2 needs dbus to be recognized by pkg-config
     at-spi2-core
     dbus
-  ] ++ lib.optional speechSupport speechd;
+  ] ++ lib.optional speechSupport speechd-minimal;
 
   enableParallelBuilding = true;
 
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/audio/rhvoice/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/audio/rhvoice/default.nix
index 16614d0e32e6..d7676ca22df0 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/audio/rhvoice/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/audio/rhvoice/default.nix
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 , glibmm
 , libpulseaudio
 , libao
-, speechd
+, speechd-minimal
 }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     glibmm
     libpulseaudio
     libao
-    speechd
+    speechd-minimal
   ];
 
   meta = {
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/misc/calibre/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/misc/calibre/default.nix
index 96c99bb08699..4b1c2657ab29 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/misc/calibre/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/misc/calibre/default.nix
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 , qmake
 , qtbase
 , qtwayland
-, speechd
+, speechd-minimal
 , sqlite
 , wrapQtAppsHook
 , xdg-utils
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
       ] ++ lib.optional (unrarSupport) unrardll)
     )
     xdg-utils
-  ] ++ lib.optional (speechSupport) speechd;
+  ] ++ lib.optional (speechSupport) speechd-minimal;
 
   installPhase = ''
     runHook preInstall
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/chromium/common.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/chromium/common.nix
index 8275a287450b..83a0482d7044 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/chromium/common.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/chromium/common.nix
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 , glib, gtk3, dbus-glib
 , libXScrnSaver, libXcursor, libXtst, libxshmfence, libGLU, libGL
 , mesa
-, pciutils, protobuf, speechd, libXdamage, at-spi2-core
+, pciutils, protobuf, speechd-minimal, libXdamage, at-spi2-core
 , pipewire
 , libva
 , libdrm, wayland, libxkbcommon # Ozone
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ let
       glib gtk3 dbus-glib
       libXScrnSaver libXcursor libXtst libxshmfence libGLU libGL
       mesa # required for libgbm
-      pciutils protobuf speechd libXdamage at-spi2-core
+      pciutils protobuf speechd-minimal libXdamage at-spi2-core
       pipewire
       libva
       libdrm wayland libxkbcommon
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ let
       glib gtk3 dbus-glib
       libXScrnSaver libXcursor libXtst libxshmfence libGLU libGL
       mesa # required for libgbm
-      pciutils protobuf speechd libXdamage at-spi2-core
+      pciutils protobuf speechd-minimal libXdamage at-spi2-core
       pipewire
       libva
       libdrm wayland libxkbcommon
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox/wrapper.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox/wrapper.nix
index 79df553d3ac2..24319ea1a4f7 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox/wrapper.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/browsers/firefox/wrapper.nix
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 , pciutils
 , sndio
 , libjack2
-, speechd
+, speechd-minimal
 , removeReferencesTo
 }:
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ let
             ++ lib.optional sndioSupport sndio
             ++ lib.optional jackSupport libjack2
             ++ lib.optional smartcardSupport opensc
-            ++ lib.optional (cfg.speechSynthesisSupport or true) speechd
+            ++ lib.optional (cfg.speechSynthesisSupport or true) speechd-minimal
             ++ pkcs11Modules
             ++ gtk_modules;
       gtk_modules = [ libcanberra-gtk3 ];
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/discord/linux.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/discord/linux.nix
index eb3f29cf2a39..e0375ecf7b89 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/discord/linux.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/instant-messengers/discord/linux.nix
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 , libXi, libXrandr, libXrender, libXtst, libxcb, libxshmfence, mesa, nspr, nss
 , pango, systemd, libappindicator-gtk3, libdbusmenu, writeScript, python3, runCommand
 , libunity
-, speechd
+, speechd-minimal
 , wayland
 , branch
 , withOpenASAR ? false, openasar
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     libappindicator-gtk3
     libdbusmenu
     wayland
-  ] ++ lib.optional withTTS speechd);
+  ] ++ lib.optional withTTS speechd-minimal);
 
   installPhase = ''
     runHook preInstall
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/networking/mumble/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/networking/mumble/default.nix
index e781ec1b1318..f33ef641abf2 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/networking/mumble/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/networking/mumble/default.nix
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 , jackSupport ? false, libjack2
 , pipewireSupport ? true, pipewire
 , pulseSupport ? true, libpulseaudio
-, speechdSupport ? false, speechd
+, speechdSupport ? false, speechd-minimal
 }:
 
 let
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ let
     buildInputs = [ flac libogg libopus libsndfile libvorbis qt5.qtsvg rnnoise speex ]
       ++ lib.optional (!jackSupport) alsa-lib
       ++ lib.optional jackSupport libjack2
-      ++ lib.optional speechdSupport speechd
+      ++ lib.optional speechdSupport speechd-minimal
       ++ lib.optional pulseSupport libpulseaudio
       ++ lib.optional pipewireSupport pipewire;
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ let
       ++ lib.optional (!pipewireSupport) "-D pipewire=OFF"
       ++ lib.optional jackSupport "-D alsa=OFF -D jackaudio=ON";
 
-    env.NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = lib.optionalString speechdSupport "-I${speechd}/include/speech-dispatcher";
+    env.NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = lib.optionalString speechdSupport "-I${speechd-minimal}/include/speech-dispatcher";
 
     postFixup = ''
       wrapProgram $out/bin/mumble \
diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/bo/boilr/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/bo/boilr/package.nix
index 381fcd1617a4..d7e95b5a8bf9 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/bo/boilr/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/bo/boilr/package.nix
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@
 , xorg
 , perl
 , openssl
-, speechd
+, speechd-minimal
 , libxkbcommon
 , libGL
 , wayland
 }:
 let
   rpathLibs = [
-    speechd
+    speechd-minimal
     openssl
     gtk3
     libxkbcommon
diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/go/google-chrome/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/go/google-chrome/package.nix
index e4060ecb5d30..87ff8448d626 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/go/google-chrome/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/go/google-chrome/package.nix
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 ## Ubuntu
 , liberation_ttf, curl, util-linux, xdg-utils, wget
 ## Arch Linux.
-, flac, harfbuzz, icu, libpng, libopus, snappy, speechd
+, flac, harfbuzz, icu, libpng, libopus, snappy, speechd-minimal
 ## Gentoo
 , bzip2, libcap
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ let
     systemd
     libexif pciutils
     liberation_ttf curl util-linux wget
-    flac harfbuzz icu libpng opusWithCustomModes snappy speechd
+    flac harfbuzz icu libpng opusWithCustomModes snappy speechd-minimal
     bzip2 libcap at-spi2-atk at-spi2-core
     libkrb5 libdrm libglvnd mesa coreutils
     libxkbcommon pipewire wayland
diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/or/orca/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/or/orca/package.nix
index 464e2c1ff778..3670d6b52077 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/or/orca/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/or/orca/package.nix
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 , lsof
 , coreutils
 , gsettings-desktop-schemas
-, speechd
+, speechd-minimal
 , brltty
 , liblouis
 , gst_all_1
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ python3.pkgs.buildPythonApplication rec {
     brltty
     liblouis
     psutil
-    speechd
+    speechd-minimal
     gst-python
     setproctitle
   ];
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/modules/qtspeech.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/modules/qtspeech.nix
index 94e66cf40044..17bc16dab4fc 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/modules/qtspeech.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-5/modules/qtspeech.nix
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-{ lib, qtModule, stdenv, speechd, pkg-config }:
+{ lib, qtModule, stdenv, speechd-minimal, pkg-config }:
 
 qtModule {
   pname = "qtspeech";
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ ];
-  buildInputs = lib.optionals stdenv.isLinux [ speechd ];
+  buildInputs = lib.optionals stdenv.isLinux [ speechd-minimal ];
   nativeBuildInputs = [ pkg-config ];
   outputs = [ "out" "dev" ];
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-6/modules/qtspeech.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-6/modules/qtspeech.nix
index 15672de8b980..3fbfa6e5d90d 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-6/modules/qtspeech.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/qt-6/modules/qtspeech.nix
@@ -6,14 +6,14 @@
 , pkg-config
 , flite
 , alsa-lib
-, speechd
+, speechd-minimal
 , Cocoa
 }:
 
 qtModule {
   pname = "qtspeech";
   nativeBuildInputs = [ pkg-config ];
-  buildInputs = lib.optionals stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux [ flite alsa-lib speechd ];
+  buildInputs = lib.optionals stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux [ flite alsa-lib speechd-minimal ];
   propagatedBuildInputs = [ qtbase qtmultimedia ]
     ++ lib.optionals stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin [ Cocoa ];
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/speechd/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/speechd/default.nix
index 9b44c8e46d0c..0568d93e5646 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/speechd/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/speechd/default.nix
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 , withEspeak ? true, espeak, sonic, pcaudiolib
 , mbrola
 , withPico ? true, svox
+, libsOnly ? false
 }:
 
 let
@@ -101,14 +102,16 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     substituteInPlace src/modules/pico.c --replace "/usr/share/pico/lang" "${svox}/share/pico/lang"
   '';
 
-  postInstall = ''
+  postInstall = if libsOnly then ''
+    rm -rf $out/{bin,etc,lib/speech-dispatcher,lib/systemd,libexec,share}
+  '' else ''
     wrapPythonPrograms
   '';
 
   enableParallelBuilding = true;
 
   meta = with lib; {
-    description = "Common interface to speech synthesis";
+    description = "Common interface to speech synthesis" + lib.optionalString libsOnly " - client libraries only";
     homepage = "https://devel.freebsoft.org/speechd";
     license = licenses.gpl2Plus;
     maintainers = with maintainers; [
diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/electron/common.nix b/pkgs/development/tools/electron/common.nix
index 36cecd7ce6a6..dbd97b898249 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/electron/common.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/electron/common.nix
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 , pipewire
 , libsecret
 , libpulseaudio
-, speechd
+, speechd-minimal
 , info
 }:
 
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ in (chromium.override { upstream-info = info.chromium; }).mkDerivation (base: {
         stdenv.cc.cc.lib
         libsecret
         libpulseaudio
-        speechd
+        speechd-minimal
       ];
     in
   base.postFixup + ''
diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/godot/4/default.nix b/pkgs/development/tools/godot/4/default.nix
index 111cf9e0a187..9c183ec79fff 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/godot/4/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/godot/4/default.nix
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 , alsa-lib
 , libpulseaudio
 , dbus
-, speechd
+, speechd-minimal
 , fontconfig
 , udev
 , withDebug ? false
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   ++ lib.optional withPulseaudio libpulseaudio
   ++ lib.optional withDbus dbus
   ++ lib.optional withDbus dbus.lib
-  ++ lib.optional withSpeechd speechd
+  ++ lib.optional withSpeechd speechd-minimal
   ++ lib.optional withFontconfig fontconfig
   ++ lib.optional withFontconfig fontconfig.lib
   ++ lib.optional withUdev udev;
diff --git a/pkgs/games/blightmud/default.nix b/pkgs/games/blightmud/default.nix
index 237fed69ff48..0669753ba048 100644
--- a/pkgs/games/blightmud/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/games/blightmud/default.nix
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 , alsa-lib
 , openssl
 , withTTS ? false
-, speechd
+, speechd-minimal
 , darwin
 }:
 let
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ rustPlatform.buildRustPackage rec {
   nativeBuildInputs = [ pkg-config rustPlatform.bindgenHook ];
 
   buildInputs = [ openssl ]
-    ++ lib.optionals (withTTS && stdenv.isLinux) [ speechd ]
+    ++ lib.optionals (withTTS && stdenv.isLinux) [ speechd-minimal ]
     ++ lib.optionals stdenv.isLinux [ alsa-lib ]
     ++ lib.optionals (withTTS && stdenv.isDarwin) [ AVFoundation AppKit ]
     ++ lib.optionals stdenv.isDarwin [ CoreAudio AudioUnit ];
diff --git a/pkgs/tools/audio/goxlr-utility/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/audio/goxlr-utility/default.nix
index b8baf0266f18..fc562d212d82 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/audio/goxlr-utility/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/audio/goxlr-utility/default.nix
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 , pkg-config
 , libpulseaudio
 , dbus
-, speechd
+, speechd-minimal
 }:
 
 rustPlatform.buildRustPackage rec {
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ rustPlatform.buildRustPackage rec {
   buildInputs = [
     libpulseaudio
     dbus
-    speechd
+    speechd-minimal
   ];
 
   nativeBuildInputs = [
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index 05779246a0c2..2e898248d088 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -24074,6 +24074,17 @@ with pkgs;
 
   speechd = callPackage ../development/libraries/speechd { };
 
+  speechd-minimal = speechd.override {
+    withLibao = false;
+    withPulse = false;
+    withAlsa = false;
+    withOss = false;
+    withFlite = false;
+    withEspeak = false;
+    withPico = false;
+    libsOnly = true;
+  };
+
   speech-tools = callPackage ../development/libraries/speech-tools {
     inherit (darwin.apple_sdk.frameworks) CoreServices AudioUnit Cocoa;
   };