diff --git a/src/Prefs.cpp b/src/Prefs.cpp
index 63df6d719..40edb3b40 100755
--- a/src/Prefs.cpp
+++ b/src/Prefs.cpp
@@ -287,6 +287,11 @@ const EnumValueSymbol &ChoiceSetting::Default() const
 wxString ChoiceSetting::Read() const
 {
    const auto &defaultValue = Default().Internal();
+   return ReadWithDefault( defaultValue );
+}
+
+wxString ChoiceSetting::ReadWithDefault( const wxString &defaultValue ) const
+{
    wxString value;
    if ( !gPrefs->Read(mKey, &value, defaultValue) )
       if (!mMigrated) {
@@ -356,10 +361,26 @@ void ChoiceSetting::SetDefault( long value )
 int EnumSetting::ReadInt() const
 {
    auto index = Find( Read() );
+
    wxASSERT( index < mIntValues.size() );
    return mIntValues[ index ];
 }
 
+int EnumSetting::ReadIntWithDefault( int defaultValue ) const
+{
+   wxString defaultString;
+   auto index0 = FindInt( defaultValue );
+   if ( index0 < mSymbols.size() )
+      defaultString = mSymbols[ index0 ].Internal();
+   else
+      wxASSERT( false );
+
+   auto index = Find( ReadWithDefault( defaultString ) );
+
+   wxASSERT( index < mSymbols.size() );
+   return mIntValues[ index ];
+}
+
 size_t EnumSetting::FindInt( int code ) const
 {
    const auto start = mIntValues.begin();
diff --git a/src/Prefs.h b/src/Prefs.h
index eec87f36b..e160bf693 100644
--- a/src/Prefs.h
+++ b/src/Prefs.h
@@ -143,6 +143,12 @@ public:
    const EnumValueSymbols &GetSymbols() const { return mSymbols; }
 
    wxString Read() const;
+
+   // new direct use is discouraged but it may be needed in legacy code:
+   // use a default in case the preference is not defined, which may not be
+   // the default-default stored in this object.
+   wxString ReadWithDefault( const wxString & ) const;
+
    bool Write( const wxString &value ); // you flush gPrefs afterward
 
    void SetDefault( long value );
@@ -178,7 +184,13 @@ public:
    );
 
    // Read and write the encoded values
-   virtual int ReadInt() const;
+   int ReadInt() const;
+
+   // new direct use is discouraged but it may be needed in legacy code:
+   // use a default in case the preference is not defined, which may not be
+   // the default-default stored in this object.
+   int ReadIntWithDefault( int defaultValue ) const;
+
    bool WriteInt( int code ); // you flush gPrefs afterward
 
 protected: