diff --git a/default.context b/default.context
index abc405655..21a062482 100644
--- a/default.context
+++ b/default.context
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
   \setupcolors[state=start]
 \stopmode
 
+$if(lang)$
+\mainlanguage[$lang$]
+$endif$
+
 % Enable hyperlinks
 \setupinteraction[state=start, color=middleblue]