diff --git a/src/cryptobox/core/settings.py b/src/cryptobox/core/settings.py
index da4cbf2..54f0437 100644
--- a/src/cryptobox/core/settings.py
+++ b/src/cryptobox/core/settings.py
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ Details = string(min=1, default="/var/log/cryptobox-server/cryptobox.log")
 
 [WebSettings]
 Stylesheet = string(min=1)
-Languages = list(min=1,default=list("en"))
+Languages = listOfLanguages(default="en")
 
 [Programs]
 cryptsetup = fileExecutable(default="/sbin/cryptsetup")
@@ -624,6 +624,7 @@ class CryptoBoxSettingsValidator(validate.Validator):
         self.functions["fileExecutable"] = self.check_file_executable
         self.functions["fileWriteable"] = self.check_file_writeable
         self.functions["listOfExistingDirectories"] = self.check_existing_directories
+        self.functions["listOfLanguages"] = self.list_languages
     
 
     def check_directory_exists(self, value):
@@ -682,6 +683,15 @@ class CryptoBoxSettingsValidator(validate.Validator):
             result.append(dir_path)
         return result
 
+    def list_languages(self, langs):
+        """Return languages as a list.
+        """
+        if not langs:
+            raise validate.VdtValueError("no language specified")
+        if not isinstance(langs, list):
+            langs = [langs]
+        return langs
+
 
 class MiscConfigFile:
     """all other config files (e.g. a ssl certificate) to be stored"""
diff --git a/src/cryptobox/web/dataset.py b/src/cryptobox/web/dataset.py
index 75eb2a2..72a5219 100644
--- a/src/cryptobox/web/dataset.py
+++ b/src/cryptobox/web/dataset.py
@@ -57,8 +57,7 @@ class WebInterfaceDataset(dict):
         for key in self.keys():
             if key.startswith("Data.Languages."):
                 del self[key]
-        langs = []
-        langs.append(self.cbox.prefs["WebSettings"]["Languages"][:])
+        langs = 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 cd96522..7d3c6c1 100644
--- a/src/cryptobox/web/sites.py
+++ b/src/cryptobox/web/sites.py
@@ -458,8 +458,7 @@ class WebInterfaceSites:
             3. languages defined in the config file
         """
         ## start with the configured language order
-        lang_order = []
-        lang_order.append(self.cbox.prefs["WebSettings"]["Languages"][:])
+        lang_order = self.cbox.prefs["WebSettings"]["Languages"][:]
         self.cbox.log.debug(
                 "updating language preferences (default: %s)" % str(lang_order))
         ## put the preferred browser language in front