diff --git a/pixelocr/gui/ocrengine.py b/pixelocr/gui/ocrengine.py
index 5b3a16f..7761f80 100644
--- a/pixelocr/gui/ocrengine.py
+++ b/pixelocr/gui/ocrengine.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ from ..glyphdb import GlyphDB, SPACE, NEWLINE
 
 class OCREngine(QThread):
     SPACE_WIDTH = 15
-    unknownGlyph = signal([Glyph])
+    unknownGlyph = signal([Glyph, bool, bool])
     pageChanged = signal([Page])
 
     def __init__(self, dirname, skip=0, limit=None, quit=False, output_format='text'):
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ class OCREngine(QThread):
         self.help_queue = Queue()
         self.quit = quit
         self.output_format = output_format
+        self.last_style = (False, False, (255, 255, 255))  # FIXME get rid of hardcoded value
 
     def save_glyphdb(self):
         self.glyphdb.save()
@@ -88,10 +89,11 @@ class OCREngine(QThread):
         except KeyError:
             text, bold, italic = self.ask_for_help(glyph)
             glyph_data = self.glyphdb.add_glyph(glyph, text, bold, italic)
+        self.last_style = glyph_data.style
         return glyph_data
 
     def ask_for_help(self, unknown_glyph):
-        self.unknownGlyph.emit(unknown_glyph)
+        self.unknownGlyph.emit(unknown_glyph, self.last_style.bold, self.last_style.italic)
         return self.receive_help()
 
     def give_help(self, *args):
diff --git a/pixelocr/gui/window.py b/pixelocr/gui/window.py
index d4fa922..e48f46e 100644
--- a/pixelocr/gui/window.py
+++ b/pixelocr/gui/window.py
@@ -103,8 +103,10 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self.restoreGeometry(settings.value("windowGeometry") or b'')
         self.restoreState(settings.value("windowState") or b'')
 
-    def unknownGlyph(self, glyph):
+    def unknownGlyph(self, glyph, bold, italic):
         self.pageScene.highlightGlyph(glyph)
+        self.glyphEdit.bold.setChecked(bold)
+        self.glyphEdit.italic.setChecked(italic)
         self.glyphEdit.setEnabled(True)
         self.glyphEdit.text.clear()
         self.glyphEdit.text.setFocus()