diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/preferences/preferences_general.xhtml b/chrome/content/zotero/preferences/preferences_general.xhtml
index 00f7d2901c..df0d2d6688 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/preferences/preferences_general.xhtml
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/preferences/preferences_general.xhtml
@@ -237,6 +237,14 @@
 					</menupopup>
 				</menulist>
 			</hbox>
+
+			<vbox>
+				<checkbox
+					preference="extensions.zotero.reader.readAloud.verticalControls"
+					data-l10n-id="preferences-read-aloud-vertical-controls"
+					native="true"
+				/>
+			</vbox>
 		</groupbox>
 
 		<groupbox id="zotero-prefpane-note-groupbox" aria-labelledby="preferences-note-title">
diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/reader.js b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/reader.js
index 94b423e9e9..7b5393baff 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/reader.js
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/reader.js
@@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ class ReaderInstance {
 			readAloudEnabledVoices: await this._getReadAloudEnabledVoices(),
 			readAloudRemoteInterface: this._getReadAloudRemoteInterface(this._iframeWindow),
 			readAloudHighlightGranularity: Zotero.Prefs.get('reader.readAloud.highlightGranularity'),
+			readAloudVerticalControls: Zotero.Prefs.get('reader.readAloud.verticalControls'),
 			getSDTPack: this._createGetSDTPack(this._iframeWindow),
 			loggedIn: Zotero.Sync.Runner.enabled,
 			onOpenContextMenu: () => {
@@ -669,6 +670,7 @@ class ReaderInstance {
 			Zotero.Prefs.registerObserver('reader.popupPositions', this._handlePopupPositionsPrefChange),
 			Zotero.Prefs.registerObserver('reader.readAloudVoices', this._handleReadAloudVoicesPrefChange),
 			Zotero.Prefs.registerObserver('reader.readAloud.highlightGranularity', this._handleReadAloudHighlightGranularityChange),
+			Zotero.Prefs.registerObserver('reader.readAloud.verticalControls', this._handleReadAloudVerticalControlsChange),
 		];
 
 		return true;
@@ -1244,6 +1246,12 @@ class ReaderInstance {
 		);
 	};
 
+	_handleReadAloudVerticalControlsChange = () => {
+		this._internalReader.setReadAloudVerticalControls(
+			Zotero.Prefs.get('reader.readAloud.verticalControls')
+		);
+	};
+
 	_handleReadAloudEnabledVoicesChange = async (voices) => {
 		if (!voices) {
 			voices = await this._getReadAloudEnabledVoices();
diff --git a/chrome/locale/en-US/zotero/preferences.ftl b/chrome/locale/en-US/zotero/preferences.ftl
index a9ae6dbf8f..7db84a21e3 100644
--- a/chrome/locale/en-US/zotero/preferences.ftl
+++ b/chrome/locale/en-US/zotero/preferences.ftl
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ preferences-read-aloud-highlight-granularity-sentence =
     .label = sentence
 preferences-read-aloud-highlight-granularity-word =
     .label = word
+preferences-read-aloud-vertical-controls =
+    .label = Show playback controls vertically
 
 preferences-note-title = Notes
 preferences-note-open-in-new-window =
diff --git a/defaults/preferences/zotero.js b/defaults/preferences/zotero.js
index 0d93ba0287..3176966d46 100644
--- a/defaults/preferences/zotero.js
+++ b/defaults/preferences/zotero.js
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ pref("extensions.zotero.reader.autoDisableTool.image", true);
 pref("extensions.zotero.reader.lastSidebarTab", "annotations");
 pref("extensions.zotero.reader.popupPositions", "{}");
 pref("extensions.zotero.reader.readAloud.highlightGranularity", "sentence");
+pref("extensions.zotero.reader.readAloud.verticalControls", false);
 
 // Set color scheme to auto by default
 pref("browser.theme.toolbar-theme", 2);