diff --git a/src/cryptobox/web/dataset.py b/src/cryptobox/web/dataset.py
index 72a5219..75eb2a2 100644
--- a/src/cryptobox/web/dataset.py
+++ b/src/cryptobox/web/dataset.py
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ class WebInterfaceDataset(dict):
         for key in self.keys():
             if key.startswith("Data.Languages."):
                 del self[key]
-        langs = self.cbox.prefs["WebSettings"]["Languages"][:]
+        langs = []
+        langs.append(self.cbox.prefs["WebSettings"]["Languages"][:])
         langs.sort()
         for (index, lang) in enumerate(langs):
             try:
diff --git a/src/cryptobox/web/sites.py b/src/cryptobox/web/sites.py
index 7d3c6c1..cd96522 100644
--- a/src/cryptobox/web/sites.py
+++ b/src/cryptobox/web/sites.py
@@ -458,7 +458,8 @@ class WebInterfaceSites:
             3. languages defined in the config file
         """
         ## start with the configured language order
-        lang_order = self.cbox.prefs["WebSettings"]["Languages"][:]
+        lang_order = []
+        lang_order.append(self.cbox.prefs["WebSettings"]["Languages"][:])
         self.cbox.log.debug(
                 "updating language preferences (default: %s)" % str(lang_order))
         ## put the preferred browser language in front