diff --git a/core/modules/startup/startup.js b/core/modules/startup/startup.js
index dcfcac48a..b971e473b 100755
--- a/core/modules/startup/startup.js
+++ b/core/modules/startup/startup.js
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ exports.startup = function() {
 					document.documentElement.setAttribute("lang",pluginTiddler.getFieldString("name"));
 					document.documentElement.setAttribute("dir",pluginTiddler.getFieldString("text-direction") || "auto");
 				} else {
+					document.documentElement.setAttribute("lang","en-GB");
 					document.documentElement.removeAttribute("dir");
 				}
 			}