diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/__init__.py
index 0d1641ba85..3272664ddc 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/__init__.py
@@ -91,6 +91,12 @@ class ConfigWidgetInterface:
         '''
         pass
 
+    def initial_tab_changed(self):
+        '''
+        Called if the initially displayed tab is changed before the widget is shown, but after it is initialized.
+        '''
+        pass
+
 
 class Setting:
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
index eff13e1890..750ca86ce8 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
@@ -774,6 +774,9 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase, Ui_Form):
         self.tabWidget.currentWidget().setFocus(Qt.FocusReason.OtherFocusReason)
         self.opt_ui_style.currentIndexChanged.connect(self.update_color_palette_state)
 
+    def initial_tab_changed(self):
+        self.sections_view.setCurrentRow(self.tabWidget.currentIndex())
+
     def fill_tb_search_order_box(self):
         # The tb_search_order is a directed graph of nodes with an arc to the next
         # node in the sequence. Node 0 (zero) is the start node with the last node
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/main.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/main.py
index 3777b75e33..9fdd0220a6 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/main.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/main.py
@@ -282,6 +282,10 @@ class Preferences(QDialog):
                                 idx = c.indexOf(w)
                                 if idx > -1:
                                     c.setCurrentIndex(idx)
+                                    try:
+                                        self.showing_widget.initial_tab_changed()
+                                    except Exception:
+                                        pass
                                     break
         else:
             self.hide_plugin()