diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
index 36ccdb145e..29e4089685 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
@@ -114,13 +114,23 @@
 		alternate_languages = list()
 	if(!islist(alternate_languages))
 		if(client)
-			// Warn them that we just broke their languages
+			// Warn them that we (probably) just broke their languages
 			client << "<span class='danger'>Your current character slot's languages list has been updated from an old version, and may not be what you expect.</span>"
+
 		if(alternate_languages in all_languages)
 			alternate_languages = list(alternate_languages)
 		else
 			alternate_languages = list()
 
+		// try to give them their species language
+		var/datum/species/SP = all_species[species]
+		if(SP)
+			alternate_languages |= SP.language
+			alternate_languages |= SP.default_language
+
+		// remove the Galcom that most races have as default_language
+		alternate_languages -= "Galactic Common"
+
 	//colors to be consolidated into hex strings (requires some work with dna code)
 	S["hair_red"]			>> r_hair
 	S["hair_green"]			>> g_hair
@@ -357,4 +367,4 @@
 
 
 #undef SAVEFILE_VERSION_MAX
-#undef SAVEFILE_VERSION_MIN
\ No newline at end of file
+#undef SAVEFILE_VERSION_MIN