diff --git a/collects/drracket/private/language-configuration.rkt b/collects/drracket/private/language-configuration.rkt
index 7c01ebf78b..bb607e23aa 100644
--- a/collects/drracket/private/language-configuration.rkt
+++ b/collects/drracket/private/language-configuration.rkt
@@ -954,11 +954,13 @@
         (open-current-language)
         (send languages-hier-list min-client-width (text-width (send languages-hier-list get-editor)))
         (send languages-hier-list min-client-height (text-height (send languages-hier-list get-editor)))
-        (when get/set-selected-language-settings
-          (get/set-selected-language-settings settings-to-show))
         (when details-shown?
           (do-construct-details))
         (update-show/hide-details)
+        (when get/set-selected-language-settings
+          ;; this call to get/set-selected-language-settings has to come after the call to do-construct-details above
+          ;; because do-construct-details sets all of the controls to the language's default settings
+          (get/set-selected-language-settings settings-to-show))
         (size-discussion-canvas in-source-discussion-editor-canvas)
         (values
          (λ () selected-language)