diff --git a/components/desktop/__tests__/desktop-host.test.tsx b/components/desktop/__tests__/desktop-host.test.tsx
index 61f8a3b8d..2d757cbf2 100644
--- a/components/desktop/__tests__/desktop-host.test.tsx
+++ b/components/desktop/__tests__/desktop-host.test.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ import { offerReturnedComposer, takeReturnedComposer } from '@/lib/popout/return
 const push = vi.fn();
 vi.mock('@/i18n/navigation', () => ({ useRouter: () => ({ push }) }));
 
+// The catalog on screen: its language, and text that says which one it came from.
+const intl = vi.hoisted(() => ({ locale: 'en', prefix: '', messages: {} as object }));
+vi.mock('next-intl', () => ({
+  useTranslations: () => (key: string) => `${intl.prefix}${key}`,
+  useLocale: () => intl.locale,
+  useMessages: () => intl.messages,
+}));
+
 const canPrint = vi.fn(() => true);
 const canDownload = vi.fn(() => true);
 vi.mock('@/lib/device-policy', () => ({ canPrintAnywhere: () => canPrint(), canDownloadAnywhere: () => canDownload() }));
@@ -68,6 +76,7 @@ function fakeBridge() {
 const original = useAuthStore.getState();
 
 beforeEach(() => {
+  Object.assign(intl, { locale: 'en', prefix: '', messages: {} });
   push.mockClear();
   resolveExternalLink.mockClear();
   resolveExternalLink.mockImplementation(async (ctx) => ctx.href);
@@ -170,11 +179,26 @@ describe('DesktopHost', () => {
   it('says which languages are in use', async () => {
     const shell = fakeBridge();
     act(() => useLocaleStore.setState({ locale: 'de' }));
+    intl.locale = 'de';
     render(<DesktopHost />);
     await waitFor(() => expect(shell.setLanguages).toHaveBeenCalled());
     expect(shell.setLanguages.mock.lastCall![0]).toMatchObject({ ui: 'de' });
   });
 
+  it('follows the text on screen, not only the stored choice', async () => {
+    const shell = fakeBridge();
+    // English chosen, but the first render still has the catalog the server picked from the OS.
+    act(() => useLocaleStore.setState({ locale: 'en' }));
+    Object.assign(intl, { locale: 'de', prefix: 'de:', messages: { de: true } });
+    const view = render(<DesktopHost />);
+    await waitFor(() => expect(shell.setLanguages).toHaveBeenCalled());
+    // The chosen catalog lands a render later.
+    Object.assign(intl, { locale: 'en', prefix: 'en:', messages: { en: true } });
+    view.rerender(<DesktopHost />);
+    await waitFor(() => expect(shell.setLanguages.mock.lastCall![0].labels.menuFile).toBe('en:desktopUi.menu.file'));
+    expect(shell.setLanguages.mock.lastCall![0]).toMatchObject({ ui: 'en' });
+  });
+
   describe('Open Link in a native menu', () => {
     const openLink = (url: string) => `link.open:${JSON.stringify({ url, text: 'click' })}`;
 
diff --git a/components/desktop/desktop-host.tsx b/components/desktop/desktop-host.tsx
index 909ca657b..b80396b80 100644
--- a/components/desktop/desktop-host.tsx
+++ b/components/desktop/desktop-host.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { useEffect, useRef } from "react";
-import { useTranslations } from "next-intl";
+import { useLocale, useMessages, useTranslations } from "next-intl";
 import { useStrictestDevices } from "@/hooks/use-device-policy";
 import { useRouter } from "@/i18n/navigation";
 import { openKeyboardShortcuts, parkAppCommand, requestAppCommand, type AppCommand } from "@/lib/app-commands";
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ export function DesktopHost() {
   const singleKeys = useSettingsStore((s) => s.singleKeyShortcuts);
   const writingLanguage = useSettingsStore((s) => s.writingLanguage);
   const uiLocale = useLocaleStore((s) => s.locale);
+  const activeLocale = useLocale();
+  const messages = useMessages();
   const strictest = useStrictestDevices();
   const { restoreWindows } = useDesktopPrefs();
   const theme = useThemeStore((s) => s.theme);
@@ -116,11 +118,14 @@ export function DesktopHost() {
     });
   }, [isAuthenticated, singleKeys, strictest]);
 
-  // Menus and spellcheck follow the interface.
+  // Menus, the tray and spellcheck follow the interface: the language its text is in now,
+  // with that text. The stored choice isn't it: on the first render the catalog can still
+  // be the one the server picked from the OS language, and the chosen one lands a render
+  // later. Going by the choice alone left the menus in the OS language for good.
   useEffect(() => {
-    const ui = uiLocale || document.documentElement.lang;
+    const ui = activeLocale || uiLocale || document.documentElement.lang;
     if (ui) setDesktopInterfaceLanguage(ui, shellLabels(tRef.current as unknown as Parameters<typeof shellLabels>[0]));
-  }, [uiLocale]);
+  }, [activeLocale, uiLocale, messages]);
 
   // What the user writes in, whichever composer asks for it too.
   useEffect(() => {