diff --git a/pcbnew/pcb_edit_frame.cpp b/pcbnew/pcb_edit_frame.cpp
index e81e9ec7a6..acf2bffa68 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcb_edit_frame.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/pcb_edit_frame.cpp
@@ -280,7 +280,10 @@ PCB_EDIT_FRAME::PCB_EDIT_FRAME( KIWAY* aKiway, wxWindow* aParent ) :
             wxSize size = m_appearancePanel->GetBestSize();
             size.x      = settings->m_AuiPanels.right_panel_width;
             m_auimgr.GetPane( "LayersManager" ).BestSize( size );
+            m_appearancePanel->SetSize( size );
         }
+
+        m_appearancePanel->SetTabIndex( settings->m_AuiPanels.appearance_panel_tab );
     }
 
     // Call Update() to fix all pane default sizes, especially the "InfoBar" pane before
@@ -944,6 +947,7 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::SaveSettings( APP_SETTINGS_BASE* aCfg )
         cfg->m_AuiPanels.show_microwave_tools = m_show_microwave_tools;
         cfg->m_AuiPanels.show_layer_manager   = m_show_layer_manager_tools;
         cfg->m_AuiPanels.right_panel_width    = m_appearancePanel->GetSize().x;
+        cfg->m_AuiPanels.appearance_panel_tab = m_appearancePanel->GetTabIndex();
         cfg->m_ShowPageLimits                 = m_showPageLimits;
     }
 }
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcbnew_settings.cpp b/pcbnew/pcbnew_settings.cpp
index c116854c54..fc6ce6a0ea 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcbnew_settings.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/pcbnew_settings.cpp
@@ -88,6 +88,9 @@ PCBNEW_SETTINGS::PCBNEW_SETTINGS()
     m_params.emplace_back(
             new PARAM<int>( "aui.right_panel_width", &m_AuiPanels.right_panel_width, -1 ) );
 
+    m_params.emplace_back( new PARAM<int>(
+            "aui.appearance_panel_tab", &m_AuiPanels.appearance_panel_tab, 0, 0, 2 ) );
+
     m_params.emplace_back( new PARAM<int>( "footprint_chooser.width",
             &m_FootprintChooser.width, -1 ) );
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcbnew_settings.h b/pcbnew/pcbnew_settings.h
index 2ee56440bd..dbf3f390ce 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcbnew_settings.h
+++ b/pcbnew/pcbnew_settings.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ class PCBNEW_SETTINGS : public APP_SETTINGS_BASE
 public:
     struct AUI_PANELS
     {
+        int  appearance_panel_tab;
         int  right_panel_width;
         bool show_microwave_tools;
         bool show_layer_manager;
diff --git a/pcbnew/widgets/appearance_controls.cpp b/pcbnew/widgets/appearance_controls.cpp
index dfd4e45ece..7fc0b6a989 100644
--- a/pcbnew/widgets/appearance_controls.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/widgets/appearance_controls.cpp
@@ -836,6 +836,21 @@ void APPEARANCE_CONTROLS::OnLayerContextMenu( wxCommandEvent& aEvent )
 }
 
 
+int APPEARANCE_CONTROLS::GetTabIndex() const
+{
+    return m_notebook->GetSelection();
+}
+
+
+void APPEARANCE_CONTROLS::SetTabIndex( int aTab )
+{
+    size_t max = m_notebook->GetPageCount();
+
+    if( aTab >= 0 && static_cast<size_t>( aTab ) < max )
+        m_notebook->SetSelection( aTab );
+}
+
+
 void APPEARANCE_CONTROLS::syncColorsAndVisibility()
 {
     BOARD*  board   = m_frame->GetBoard();
diff --git a/pcbnew/widgets/appearance_controls.h b/pcbnew/widgets/appearance_controls.h
index f6554be62d..7e677a0ab8 100644
--- a/pcbnew/widgets/appearance_controls.h
+++ b/pcbnew/widgets/appearance_controls.h
@@ -143,6 +143,12 @@ public:
 
     void OnLayerContextMenu( wxCommandEvent& aEvent );
 
+    ///> Returns the index of the current tab (0-2)
+    int GetTabIndex() const;
+
+    ///> Sets the current notebook tab
+    void SetTabIndex( int aTab );
+
 protected:
 
     void OnLayerDisplayPaneChanged( wxCollapsiblePaneEvent& event ) override;