diff --git a/gtk/gtkstylecontext.c b/gtk/gtkstylecontext.c
index b4ea5cc0e8..45f1417bad 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkstylecontext.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkstylecontext.c
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ gtk_style_context_init (GtkStyleContext *style_context)
                                             (GDestroyNotify) style_data_free);
   priv->theming_engine = g_object_ref ((gpointer) gtk_theming_engine_load (NULL));
 
-  priv->direction = GTK_TEXT_DIR_RTL;
+  priv->direction = GTK_TEXT_DIR_LTR;
 
   priv->screen = gdk_screen_get_default ();