diff --git a/irc/client.go b/irc/client.go
index e77f230b..236f1bc9 100644
--- a/irc/client.go
+++ b/irc/client.go
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ func NewClient(server *Server, conn net.Conn, isTLS bool) *Client {
 		nickCasefolded: "*",
 		nickMaskString: "*", // * is used until actual nick is given
 	}
+	client.languages = server.languages.Default()
 
 	client.recomputeMaxlens()
 	if isTLS {
diff --git a/irc/languages.go b/irc/languages.go
index 72a712bd..29cf4784 100644
--- a/irc/languages.go
+++ b/irc/languages.go
@@ -13,13 +13,15 @@ type LanguageManager struct {
 	sync.RWMutex
 	Info         map[string]LangData
 	translations map[string]map[string]string
+	defaultLang  string
 }
 
 // NewLanguageManager returns a new LanguageManager.
-func NewLanguageManager(languageData map[string]LangData) *LanguageManager {
+func NewLanguageManager(defaultLang string, languageData map[string]LangData) *LanguageManager {
 	lm := LanguageManager{
 		Info:         make(map[string]LangData),
 		translations: make(map[string]map[string]string),
+		defaultLang:  defaultLang,
 	}
 
 	// make fake "en" info
@@ -38,6 +40,17 @@ func NewLanguageManager(languageData map[string]LangData) *LanguageManager {
 	return &lm
 }
 
+// Default returns the default languages.
+func (lm *LanguageManager) Default() []string {
+	lm.RLock()
+	defer lm.RUnlock()
+
+	if lm.defaultLang == "" {
+		return []string{}
+	}
+	return []string{lm.defaultLang}
+}
+
 // Count returns how many languages we have.
 func (lm *LanguageManager) Count() int {
 	lm.RLock()
diff --git a/irc/server.go b/irc/server.go
index 5ea9f1a5..3c858374 100644
--- a/irc/server.go
+++ b/irc/server.go
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func NewServer(config *Config, logger *logger.Manager) (*Server, error) {
 		commands:            make(chan Command),
 		connectionLimiter:   connection_limits.NewLimiter(),
 		connectionThrottler: connection_limits.NewThrottler(),
-		languages:           NewLanguageManager(config.Languages.Data),
+		languages:           NewLanguageManager(config.Languages.Default, config.Languages.Data),
 		listeners:           make(map[string]*ListenerWrapper),
 		logger:              logger,
 		monitorManager:      NewMonitorManager(),