diff --git a/src/keyfile.c b/src/keyfile.c
index a61f0077..6c766b39 100644
--- a/src/keyfile.c
+++ b/src/keyfile.c
@@ -878,9 +878,9 @@ static void load_dialog_prefs(GKeyFile *config)
 	template_prefs.mail = utils_get_setting_string(config, PACKAGE, "pref_template_mail", tmp_string);
 	g_free(tmp_string);
 	g_free(tmp_string2);
-	template_prefs.year_format = utils_get_setting_string(config, PACKAGE, "pref_template_year", "%Y");
-	template_prefs.date_format = utils_get_setting_string(config, PACKAGE, "pref_template_date", "%Y-%m-%d");
-	template_prefs.datetime_format = utils_get_setting_string(config, PACKAGE, "pref_template_datetime", "%d.%m.%Y %H:%M:%S %Z");
+	template_prefs.year_format = utils_get_setting_string(config, PACKAGE, "pref_template_year", GEANY_TEMPLATES_FORMAT_YEAR);
+	template_prefs.date_format = utils_get_setting_string(config, PACKAGE, "pref_template_date", GEANY_TEMPLATES_FORMAT_DATE);
+	template_prefs.datetime_format = utils_get_setting_string(config, PACKAGE, "pref_template_datetime", GEANY_TEMPLATES_FORMAT_DATETIME);
 
 	/* tools */
 	cmd = utils_get_setting_string(config, "tools", "terminal_cmd", "");
diff --git a/src/templates.h b/src/templates.h
index 724c7e6c..bcadf630 100644
--- a/src/templates.h
+++ b/src/templates.h
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@
 G_BEGIN_DECLS
 
 #define GEANY_TEMPLATES_INDENT 3
+#define GEANY_TEMPLATES_FORMAT_YEAR              C_("DefaultYear", "%Y")
+#define GEANY_TEMPLATES_FORMAT_DATE              C_("DefaultDate", "%Y-%m-%d")
+#define GEANY_TEMPLATES_FORMAT_DATETIME          C_("DefaultDateTime", "%d.%m.%Y %H:%M:%S %Z")
 
 enum
 {