diff --git a/pmd-ui/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/util/fxdesigner/SourceEditorController.java b/pmd-ui/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/util/fxdesigner/SourceEditorController.java
index e90fe78396..3b3a22c843 100644
--- a/pmd-ui/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/util/fxdesigner/SourceEditorController.java
+++ b/pmd-ui/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/util/fxdesigner/SourceEditorController.java
@@ -163,6 +163,8 @@ public class SourceEditorController extends AbstractController {
                     });
 
         languageVersionUIProperty = DesignerUtil.mapToggleGroupToUserData(languageToggleGroup);
+        // this will be overwritten by property restore if needed
+        languageVersionUIProperty.setValue(DesignerUtil.defaultLanguageVersion());
     }