diff --git a/conf/rayo/autoload_configs/ssml.conf.xml b/conf/rayo/autoload_configs/ssml.conf.xml
index 0a18d6bd33..466d9da400 100644
--- a/conf/rayo/autoload_configs/ssml.conf.xml
+++ b/conf/rayo/autoload_configs/ssml.conf.xml
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 	<!-- map interpret-as to say macros -->
 	<macros>
 		<macro name="cardinal" method="pronounced" type="number"/>
+		<macro name="characters" method="pronounced" type="name_spelled"/>
 	</macros>
 
 </configuration>
diff --git a/src/mod/formats/mod_ssml/conf/autoload_configs/ssml.conf.xml b/src/mod/formats/mod_ssml/conf/autoload_configs/ssml.conf.xml
index 0a18d6bd33..466d9da400 100644
--- a/src/mod/formats/mod_ssml/conf/autoload_configs/ssml.conf.xml
+++ b/src/mod/formats/mod_ssml/conf/autoload_configs/ssml.conf.xml
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 	<!-- map interpret-as to say macros -->
 	<macros>
 		<macro name="cardinal" method="pronounced" type="number"/>
+		<macro name="characters" method="pronounced" type="name_spelled"/>
 	</macros>
 
 </configuration>