diff --git a/collects/drracket/private/main.rkt b/collects/drracket/private/main.rkt
index 96e9762a97..157b167d4e 100644
--- a/collects/drracket/private/main.rkt
+++ b/collects/drracket/private/main.rkt
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@
                                                                   (and (integer? i)
                                                                        (<= 1 i 255))))
                                                            (not x))))
-  (drr:set-default 'drracket:module-language:auto-text "#lang racket" string?)
+  (drr:set-default 'drracket:module-language:auto-text "#lang racket\n" string?)
 
 (let ([drs-handler-recent-items-super%
        (class (drracket:frame:basics-mixin
diff --git a/collects/drracket/private/module-language.rkt b/collects/drracket/private/module-language.rkt
index ea9a7f86e1..0f87413ba3 100644
--- a/collects/drracket/private/module-language.rkt
+++ b/collects/drracket/private/module-language.rkt
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
   
   (define default-compilation-on? #t)
   (define default-full-trace? #t)
-  (define (get-default-auto-text) (preferences:get 'drracket:module-language:auto-text))  
+  (define (get-default-auto-text) (preferences:get 'drracket:module-language:auto-text))
   
   ;; module-mixin : (implements drracket:language:language<%>)
   ;;             -> (implements drracket:language:language<%>)
@@ -583,9 +583,8 @@
                                     [init-value ""]
                                     [callback 
                                      (λ (tf evt)
-                                       (define t (send tf get-editor))
                                        (preferences:set 'drracket:module-language:auto-text
-                                                        (send t get-text)))]))
+                                                        (get-auto-text)))]))
     
     ;; data associated with each item in listbox : boolean
     ;; indicates if the entry is the default paths.