diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/TraditionalT9.java b/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/TraditionalT9.java
index 84a5e6ca..ebfd79a9 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/TraditionalT9.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/TraditionalT9.java
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 	// language
 	protected ArrayList<Integer> mEnabledLanguages;
 	protected Language mLanguage;
+	protected Language systemLanguage;
 
 	// soft key view
 	private MainView mainView = null;
@@ -226,6 +227,8 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 		}
 
 		normalizationHandler.removeCallbacksAndMessages(null);
+		systemLanguage = LanguageCollection.getDefault(this);
+
 		initUi();
 		updateInputViewShown();
 	}
@@ -462,6 +465,7 @@ public class TraditionalT9 extends KeyPadHandler {
 		}
 
 		cancelAutoAccept();
+		backward = systemLanguage.isRTL() != backward;
 		suggestionBar.scrollToSuggestion(backward ? -1 : 1);
 		mInputMode.setWordStem(suggestionBar.getCurrentSuggestion(), true);
 		setComposingTextWithHighlightedStem(suggestionBar.getCurrentSuggestion());
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/languages/LanguageCollection.java b/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/languages/LanguageCollection.java
index e15f45aa..fc40efca 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/languages/LanguageCollection.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/languages/LanguageCollection.java
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package io.github.sspanak.tt9.languages;
 
 import android.content.Context;
 
+import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ public class LanguageCollection {
 		return null;
 	}
 
-	public static Language getDefault(Context context) {
+	@NonNull public static Language getDefault(Context context) {
 		Language language = getByLocale(context, SystemSettings.getLocale());
 		language = language == null ? getByLocale(context, "en") : language;
 		return language == null ? new NullLanguage(context) : language;
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ui/main/keys/SoftKey.java b/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ui/main/keys/SoftKey.java
index adba9718..50b2e83d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ui/main/keys/SoftKey.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ui/main/keys/SoftKey.java
@@ -142,14 +142,11 @@ public class SoftKey extends androidx.appcompat.widget.AppCompatButton implement
 		int keyId = getId();
 		boolean multiplePress = lastPressedKey == keyId;
 
-		Language language = getCurrentLanguage();
-		boolean isRTL = language != null && language.isRTL();
-
 		if (keyId == R.id.soft_key_add_word) return tt9.onKeyAddWord(false);
 		if (keyId == R.id.soft_key_filter_suggestions) return tt9.onKeyFilterSuggestions(false, multiplePress);
 		if (keyId == R.id.soft_key_clear_filter) return tt9.onKeyFilterClear(false);
-		if (keyId == R.id.soft_key_left_arrow) return tt9.onKeyScrollSuggestion(false, !isRTL);
-		if (keyId == R.id.soft_key_right_arrow) return tt9.onKeyScrollSuggestion(false, isRTL);
+		if (keyId == R.id.soft_key_left_arrow) return tt9.onKeyScrollSuggestion(false, true);
+		if (keyId == R.id.soft_key_right_arrow) return tt9.onKeyScrollSuggestion(false, false);
 		if (keyId == R.id.soft_key_language) return tt9.onKeyNextLanguage(false);
 		if (keyId == R.id.soft_key_ok) return tt9.onOK();
 		if (keyId == R.id.soft_key_settings) return tt9.onKeyShowSettings(false);