diff --git a/src/preferences/dialog/dlgprefcontrols.cpp b/src/preferences/dialog/dlgprefcontrols.cpp
index c92237b98cb6..1a9cdd4e25ad 100644
--- a/src/preferences/dialog/dlgprefcontrols.cpp
+++ b/src/preferences/dialog/dlgprefcontrols.cpp
@@ -100,10 +100,14 @@ DlgPrefControls::DlgPrefControls(QWidget * parent, MixxxMainWindow * mixxx,
             this, SLOT(slotSetRateRange(int)));
 
     // Set default range as stored in config file
-    if (m_pConfig->getValueString(ConfigKey("[Controls]", "RateRangePercent")).length() == 0) {
+    if (!m_pConfig->exists(ConfigKey("[Controls]","RateRangePercent")) ||
+        m_pConfig->getValueString(ConfigKey("[Controls]", "RateRangePercent")).length() == 0) {
         // Fall back to old [Controls]RateRange
-        if (m_pConfig->getValueString(ConfigKey("[Controls]", "RateRange")).length() == 0) {
-            m_pConfig->set(ConfigKey("[Controls]", "RateRangePercent"), ConfigValue(8));
+        if (!m_pConfig->exists(ConfigKey("[Controls]","RateRange")) ||
+            m_pConfig->getValueString(ConfigKey("[Controls]", "RateRange")).length() == 0) {
+            int rateRangePercent = 8;
+            m_pConfig->set(ConfigKey("[Controls]", "RateRangePercent"), ConfigValue(rateRangePercent));
+            slotSetRateRangePercent(rateRangePercent);
         } else {
             int oldIdx = m_pConfig->getValueString(ConfigKey("[Controls]", "RateRange")).toInt();
             double oldRange = static_cast<double>(oldIdx-1) / 10.0;