diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/ui/reader/ReaderPresenter.kt b/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/ui/reader/ReaderPresenter.kt
index 22e36af075..63eea1037b 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/ui/reader/ReaderPresenter.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/kanade/tachiyomi/ui/reader/ReaderPresenter.kt
@@ -414,14 +414,16 @@ class ReaderPresenter(
      * Returns the viewer position used by this manga or the default one.
      */
     fun getMangaViewer(): Int {
-        val manga = manga ?: return preferences.defaultViewer()
+        val default = preferences.defaultViewer()
+        val manga = manga ?: return default
         val readerType = manga.defaultReaderType()
-        if (manga.viewer == -1 ||
-            (readerType == ReaderActivity.WEBTOON && readerType != manga.viewer)) {
-            manga.viewer = readerType
+        if (manga.viewer == -1 || (readerType == ReaderActivity.WEBTOON && readerType != manga.viewer)) {
+            val cantSwitchToLTR =
+                (readerType == ReaderActivity.LEFT_TO_RIGHT && default != ReaderActivity.RIGHT_TO_LEFT)
+            manga.viewer = if (cantSwitchToLTR) 0 else readerType
             db.updateMangaViewer(manga).asRxObservable().subscribe()
         }
-        return if (manga.viewer == 0) preferences.defaultViewer() else manga.viewer
+        return if (manga.viewer == 0) default else manga.viewer
     }
 
     /**