diff --git a/common/class_page_info.cpp b/common/class_page_info.cpp
index c8d5bd83d1..917eb954af 100644
--- a/common/class_page_info.cpp
+++ b/common/class_page_info.cpp
@@ -85,10 +85,17 @@ wxArrayString PAGE_INFO::GetStandardSizes()
 }
 */
 
+
+inline void PAGE_INFO::updatePortrait()
+{
+    // update m_portrait based on orientation of m_size.x and m_size.y
+    m_portrait = ( m_size.y > m_size.x );
+}
+
+
 PAGE_INFO::PAGE_INFO( const wxSize& aSizeMils, const wxString& aType ) :
     m_type( aType ),
-    m_size( aSizeMils ),
-    m_portrait( false )
+    m_size( aSizeMils )
 {
 #if defined(KICAD_GOST)
     m_left_margin   = GOST_LEFTMARGIN;
@@ -98,6 +105,8 @@ PAGE_INFO::PAGE_INFO( const wxSize& aSizeMils, const wxString& aType ) :
 #else
     m_left_margin = m_right_margin = m_top_margin = m_bottom_margin = 400;
 #endif
+
+    updatePortrait();
 }
 
 
@@ -106,6 +115,7 @@ PAGE_INFO::PAGE_INFO( const wxString& aType )
     SetType( aType );
 }
 
+
 bool PAGE_INFO::SetType( const wxString& aType )
 {
     bool rc = true;
@@ -147,6 +157,8 @@ bool PAGE_INFO::SetType( const wxString& aType )
         // customize:
         m_size.x = s_user_width;
         m_size.y = s_user_height;
+
+        updatePortrait();
     }
     else
         rc = false;
@@ -170,7 +182,7 @@ void PAGE_INFO::SetPortrait( bool isPortrait )
 
         m_portrait = isPortrait;
 
-        // margins are not touched.
+        // margins are not touched, do that if you want
     }
 }
 
@@ -210,10 +222,13 @@ void PAGE_INFO::SetUserHeightMils( int aHeightInMils )
 void PAGE_INFO::SetWidthMils(  int aWidthInMils )
 {
     m_size.x = clampWidth( aWidthInMils );
+    updatePortrait();
 }
 
 
 void PAGE_INFO::SetHeightMils( int aHeightInMils )
 {
     m_size.y = clampHeight( aHeightInMils );
+    updatePortrait();
 }
+
diff --git a/common/dialogs/dialog_page_settings.cpp b/common/dialogs/dialog_page_settings.cpp
index 9e02f7800d..b554b5d969 100644
--- a/common/dialogs/dialog_page_settings.cpp
+++ b/common/dialogs/dialog_page_settings.cpp
@@ -79,10 +79,9 @@ void DIALOG_PAGES_SETTINGS::initDialog()
 
     setCurrentPageSizeSelection( pageInfo.GetType() );
 
-    // only a click fires the selection changed event, so have to fabricate this check
-    wxCommandEvent junk;
-
-    onPaperSizeChoice( junk );
+    // only a click fires the "selection changed" event, so have to fabricate this check
+    wxCommandEvent dummy;
+    onPaperSizeChoice( dummy );
 
     switch( g_UserUnit )
     {
@@ -247,13 +246,15 @@ void DIALOG_PAGES_SETTINGS::SavePageSettings( wxCommandEvent& event )
     }
     else
     {
-        pageInfo.SetPortrait( m_orientationComboBox->GetSelection() );
-
         // here we assume translators will keep original paper size spellings
         if( !pageInfo.SetType( paperType ) )
         {
             wxASSERT_MSG( FALSE, wxT( "the translation for paper size must preserve original spellings" ) );
         }
+
+        // set portrait _after_ setting size/type above
+        int choice = m_orientationComboBox->GetSelection();
+        pageInfo.SetPortrait( choice );
     }
 
     m_Parent->SetPageSettings( pageInfo );
diff --git a/include/common.h b/include/common.h
index a862eea6dc..1094808035 100644
--- a/include/common.h
+++ b/include/common.h
@@ -148,9 +148,10 @@ public:
      * commonly associated with that type name.
      *
      * @param aStandardPageDescriptionName is a wxString constant giving one of:
-     * "A4" "A3" "A2" "A1" "A0" "A" "B" "C" "D" "E" "GERBER", or "User".  If "User"
-     * then the width and height are custom, and will be set according to previous calls
-     * to static PAGE_INFO::SetUserWidthMils() and
+     * "A4" "A3" "A2" "A1" "A0" "A" "B" "C" "D" "E" "GERBER", "USLetter", "USLegal",
+     * "USLedger", or "User".  If "User" then the width and height are custom,
+     * and will be set according to <b>previous</b> calls to
+     * static PAGE_INFO::SetUserWidthMils() and
      * static PAGE_INFO::SetUserHeightMils();
      *
      * @return bool - true iff @a aStandarePageDescription was a recognized type.
@@ -268,6 +269,8 @@ private:
 
     static int s_user_height;
     static int s_user_width;
+
+    void updatePortrait();
 };