diff --git a/src/plugins/view/pedigreeview.py b/src/plugins/view/pedigreeview.py
index 076e8ba1b..483797787 100644
--- a/src/plugins/view/pedigreeview.py
+++ b/src/plugins/view/pedigreeview.py
@@ -771,6 +771,9 @@ class PedigreeView(NavigationView):
         self.scrolledwindow.add_with_viewport(event_box)
 
         self.table = gtk.Table(1, 1, False)
+        # force LTR layout of the tree, even though the text might be RTL!
+        # this way the horizontal scroll preferences will be correct always
+        self.table.set_direction(gtk.TEXT_DIR_LTR)
         event_box.add(self.table)
         event_box.get_parent().set_shadow_type(gtk.SHADOW_NONE)
         self.table.set_row_spacings(1)
@@ -1275,6 +1278,10 @@ class PedigreeView(NavigationView):
             elif self.tree_direction == 3:
                 child_arrow = gtk.ARROW_RIGHT
                 parent_arrow = gtk.ARROW_LEFT
+            # GTK will reverse the icons for RTL locales, but we force LTR layout of the table,
+            # so reverse the arrows back...
+            if self.tree_direction in [2,3] and self.scrolledwindow.get_direction() == gtk.TEXT_DIR_RTL:
+                child_arrow, parent_arrow = parent_arrow, child_arrow
 
             button = gtk.Button()
             button.add(gtk.Arrow(child_arrow, gtk.SHADOW_IN))