diff --git a/tts-server.mjs b/tts-server.mjs
index eeade2f..cc31ef4 100644
--- a/tts-server.mjs
+++ b/tts-server.mjs
@@ -28,16 +28,16 @@ const PORT        = parseInt(process.env.TTS_PORT ?? '11500')
 const VOICES_FILE = path.join(import.meta.dirname, 'voices.yaml')
 const CHIMES_DIR  = path.join(import.meta.dirname, 'chimes')
 
-function reload_voices() {
+function reload_config() {
 	try {
 		const doc = yaml.load(fs.readFileSync(VOICES_FILE, 'utf8'))
-		return doc?.voices ?? {}
+		return { voices: doc?.voices ?? {}, chimes: doc?.chimes ?? {} }
 	} catch {
-		return {}
+		return { voices: {}, chimes: {} }
 	}
 }
 
-let voices = reload_voices()
+let { voices, chimes } = reload_config()
 let current_voice = null  // name of active voice, or null
 
 // --- TTS setup ---
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ const server = http.createServer(async (req, res) => {
 	}
 
 	if (req.method === 'GET' && req.url === '/voices') {
-		voices = reload_voices()
+		({ voices, chimes } = reload_config())
 		const list = Object.entries(voices).map(([name, v]) => ({
 			name,
 			description: v.description ?? '',
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ const server = http.createServer(async (req, res) => {
 		}
 		const { name } = body
 		if (!name) return send(res, 400, { error: 'name required' })
-		voices = reload_voices()
+		;({ voices, chimes } = reload_config())
 		if (!voices[name]) return send(res, 404, { error: `unknown voice: ${name}` })
 		current_voice = name
 		process.stderr.write(`[tts-server] voice switched to: ${name}\n`)
@@ -117,10 +117,11 @@ const server = http.createServer(async (req, res) => {
 		}
 		const { name } = body
 		if (!name) return send(res, 400, { error: 'name required' })
-		// Try .wav then .ogg
+		// YAML mapping takes priority; fall back to chimes/<name>.wav or .ogg
+		;({ voices, chimes } = reload_config())
 		const wav = path.join(CHIMES_DIR, `${name}.wav`)
 		const ogg = path.join(CHIMES_DIR, `${name}.ogg`)
-		const file = fs.existsSync(wav) ? wav : fs.existsSync(ogg) ? ogg : null
+		const file = chimes[name] ?? (fs.existsSync(wav) ? wav : fs.existsSync(ogg) ? ogg : null)
 		if (!file) return send(res, 404, { error: `chime not found: ${name}` })
 		try {
 			await enqueue(() => play_file(file))
diff --git a/voices.yaml b/voices.yaml
index 0531044..b784bfa 100644
--- a/voices.yaml
+++ b/voices.yaml
@@ -52,3 +52,11 @@ voices:
     description: Sheila from Army of Darkness
 
 # Add more voices as clips become available
+
+# System event chimes — map event name to audio file path.
+# Falls back to chimes/<name>.wav or .ogg if not listed here.
+chimes:
+#  ready:    /home/devilholk/sounds/trek-chirp.wav
+#  dispatch: /home/devilholk/sounds/trek-send.wav
+#  cancel:   /home/devilholk/sounds/cancel.ogg
+#  error:    /home/devilholk/sounds/error.ogg