diff --git a/homeassistant/components/picotts/tts.py b/homeassistant/components/picotts/tts.py
index 23e94b5206d..4d9f1755145 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/picotts/tts.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/picotts/tts.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class PicoProvider(Provider):
         with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix=".wav", delete=False) as tmpf:
             fname = tmpf.name
 
-        cmd = ["pico2wave", "--wave", fname, "-l", language, message]
+        cmd = ["pico2wave", "--wave", fname, "-l", language, "--", message]
         subprocess.call(cmd)
         data = None
         try: