diff --git a/pixelocr/document.py b/pixelocr/document.py
index 85ff092..0a445c9 100644
--- a/pixelocr/document.py
+++ b/pixelocr/document.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class Document(object):
         self.config = Configuration.load_file(path.join(self.dirname, 'config.yaml'))
         self.output_format = output_format
         self.last_style = Style(bold=False, italic=False, color=(255, 255, 255))  # FIXME get rid of hardcoded value
-        self.last_language = None
+        self.last_language = self.default_language
 
     def save_glyphdb(self):
         self.glyphdb.save()
@@ -88,7 +88,15 @@ class Document(object):
         languages = self.config.get('languages', {})
         return {letter: lang_name for lang_name, opts in languages.items() for letter in opts.get('alphabet', ())}
 
+    @cached_property
+    def default_language(self):
+        for lang_name, opts in self.config.get('lenauges', {}):
+            if opts.get('default'):
+                return lang_name
+
     def switch_layout(self, language):
+        if language is None:
+            language = self.default_language
         cmd = self.config.get('languages', {}).get(language, {}).get('command')
         if cmd:
             return subprocess.call(cmd, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
diff --git a/pixelocr/page.py b/pixelocr/page.py
index 5053a60..e34fa5b 100644
--- a/pixelocr/page.py
+++ b/pixelocr/page.py
@@ -274,12 +274,14 @@ class Word(PageObject):
         counts = defaultdict(int)
         language_map = self.document.language_map
         known_glyph_info = self._known_glyph_info()
-        if not known_glyph_info:
-            return default
         for glyph_info in known_glyph_info:
-            counts[language_map.get(glyph_info.text)] += 1
-        language = max(counts, key=lambda lang: counts[lang])
-        return language
+            language = language_map.get(glyph_info.text)
+            if language is not None:
+                counts[language] += 1
+        if not counts:
+            return default
+        else:
+            return max(counts, key=lambda lang: counts[lang])
 
     def guess_bold(self, *args, **kwargs):
         return self._guess('bold', *args, **kwargs)