diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/cfi.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/cfi.pyj
index 82167ce307..05f38ddba4 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/cfi.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/cfi.pyj
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ def scroll_to(cfi, callback, doc):  # {{{
             r = node.getBoundingClientRect()
             # Start of element is right side in RTL, so be sure to get that side in RTL mode
             x, y = scroll_viewport.viewport_to_document(
-                r.left if scroll_viewport.ltr() else r.right, r.top, node.ownerDocument)
+                r.left if scroll_viewport.ltr else r.right, r.top, node.ownerDocument)
             if jstype(point_.x) is 'number' and node.offsetWidth:
                 x += (point_.x*node.offsetWidth)/100
             if jstype(point_.y) is 'number' and node.offsetHeight:
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ def at_point(ox, oy):  # {{{
             r = node.getBoundingClientRect()
             # Start of element is right side in RTL, so be sure to get that side in RTL mode
             x, y = scroll_viewport.viewport_to_document(
-                r.left if scroll_viewport.ltr() else r.right, r.top, node.ownerDocument)
+                r.left if scroll_viewport.ltr else r.right, r.top, node.ownerDocument)
             if jstype(p.x) is 'number' and node.offsetWidth:
                 x += (p.x*node.offsetWidth)/100
             if jstype(p.y) is 'number' and node.offsetHeight:
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/flow_mode.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/flow_mode.pyj
index 83409f8448..eff206e7e1 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/flow_mode.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/flow_mode.pyj
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ anchor_funcs = {
         # Elements start on the right side in RTL mode,
         # so be sure to return that side if in RTL.
         x, y = scroll_viewport.viewport_to_document(
-            br.left if scroll_viewport.ltr() else br.right,
+            br.left if scroll_viewport.ltr else br.right,
             br.top, elem.ownerDocument)
         return y, x
     ,
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/paged_mode.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/paged_mode.pyj
index 06d3cf72f9..d2fc6ad201 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/paged_mode.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/paged_mode.pyj
@@ -430,10 +430,10 @@ def scroll_to_elem(elem):
             # inaccurate results, so we prefer the bounding client rect,
             # when possible.
             # Columns start on the right side in RTL mode, so get that instead here...
-            pos = elem.scrollLeft if scroll_viewport.ltr() else elem.scrollRight
+            pos = elem.scrollLeft if scroll_viewport.ltr else elem.scrollRight
         else:
             # and here.
-            pos = br.left if scroll_viewport.ltr() else br.right
+            pos = br.left if scroll_viewport.ltr else br.right
         scroll_to_xpos(scroll_viewport.viewport_to_document(
             pos+2, elem.scrollTop, elem.ownerDocument)[0])
 
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ def snap_to_selection():
         node = sel.anchorNode
         # In RTL mode, the "start" of selection is on the right side.
         pos = scroll_viewport.viewport_to_document(
-            r.left if scroll_viewport.ltr() else r.right,
+            r.left if scroll_viewport.ltr else r.right,
             r.top, doc=node.ownerDocument)[0]
 
         # Ensure we are scrolled to the column containing the start of the
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ def handle_gesture(gesture):
         else:
             if not gesture.active or gesture.is_held:
                 scroll_by_page(gesture.direction is 'right', True, flip_if_rtl_page_progression=True)
-    # Gesture progression direction is determined in the gesture code;
+    # Gesture progression direction is determined in the gesture code,
     # don't set flip_if_rtl_page_progression=True here.
     elif gesture.type is 'prev-page':
         scroll_by_page(True, opts.paged_taps_scroll_by_screen, flip_if_rtl_page_progression=False)
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ anchor_funcs = {
         br = elem.getBoundingClientRect()
         # In RTL mode, the start of something is on the right side.
         x = scroll_viewport.viewport_to_document(
-            br.left if scroll_viewport.ltr() else br.right,
+            br.left if scroll_viewport.ltr else br.right,
             br.top, elem.ownerDocument)[0]
         return column_at(x)
     ,
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/viewport.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/viewport.pyj
index abcd6909fa..abe5d6ab37 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/viewport.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/viewport.pyj
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class ScrollViewport:
         # current X position and the requested X scroll position, which fools the reader
         # code into thinking that it's always scrolling in positive X.
         self.rtl = False
+        self.ltr = True
 
     def set_mode(self, mode):
         prefix = ('flow' if mode is 'flow' else 'paged') + '_'
@@ -24,12 +25,11 @@ class ScrollViewport:
 
     def initialize_on_layout(self):
         self.rtl = False
+        self.ltr = True
         body_style = window.getComputedStyle(document.body)
         if body_style.direction is "rtl":
             self.rtl = True
-
-    def ltr(self):
-        return not self.rtl
+            self.ltr = False
 
     def flow_x(self):
         if self.rtl: