diff --git a/src/sdl/i_system.cpp b/src/sdl/i_system.cpp
index e46b8e59d8..f7137d1036 100644
--- a/src/sdl/i_system.cpp
+++ b/src/sdl/i_system.cpp
@@ -97,13 +97,7 @@ SDL_Cursor *X11Cursor;
 SDL_Cursor *FirstCursor;
 #endif
 
-DWORD LanguageIDs[4] =
-{
-	MAKE_ID ('e','n','u',0),
-	MAKE_ID ('e','n','u',0),
-	MAKE_ID ('e','n','u',0),
-	MAKE_ID ('e','n','u',0)
-};
+DWORD LanguageIDs[4];
 	
 int (*I_GetTime) (bool saveMS);
 int (*I_WaitForTic) (int);
@@ -326,6 +320,13 @@ void I_WaitVBL (int count)
 //
 void SetLanguageIDs ()
 {
+	size_t langlen = strlen(language);
+
+	DWORD lang = (langlen < 2 || langlen > 3) ?
+		MAKE_ID('e','n','u','0') :
+		MAKE_ID(language[0],language[1],language[2],'0');
+
+	LanguageIDs[3] = LanguageIDs[2] = LanguageIDs[1] = LanguageIDs[0] = lang;
 }
 
 //