diff --git a/gramps/gen/config.py b/gramps/gen/config.py
index faf9e11b3..6ea404ab8 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/config.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/config.py
@@ -263,6 +263,7 @@ register('preferences.iprefix', 'I%04d')
 register('preferences.name-format', 1)
 register('preferences.place-format', 0)
 register('preferences.place-auto', True)
+register('preferences.coord-format', 0)
 register('preferences.patronimic-surname', False)
 register('preferences.no-given-text', "[%s]" % _("Missing Given Name"))
 register('preferences.no-record-text', "[%s]" % _("Missing Record"))
diff --git a/gramps/gen/plug/report/stdoptions.py b/gramps/gen/plug/report/stdoptions.py
index 638dcd050..a712c7625 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/plug/report/stdoptions.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/plug/report/stdoptions.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ from ..menu import EnumeratedListOption, BooleanOption, NumberOption
 from ...proxy import PrivateProxyDb, LivingProxyDb
 from ...utils.grampslocale import GrampsLocale
 from ...const import GRAMPS_LOCALE as glocale
-from ...utils.place import coord_formats
+from ...utils.place import coord_formats, coord_formats_desc
 _ = glocale.translation.sgettext
 
 # _T_ is a gramps-defined keyword -- see po/update_po.py and po/genpot.sh
@@ -383,9 +383,9 @@ def add_coordinates_format_option(menu, category):
     Insert an option for changing the report's coordinates format to a
     report-specific format instead of the user's Edit=>Preferences choice
     """
-    coord_format = EnumeratedListOption(_("Coordinates format"), -1)
+    coord_format = EnumeratedListOption(_("Coordinates format"), 0)
     for number, fmt in enumerate(coord_formats):
-        coord_format.add_item(number, fmt)
+        coord_format.add_item(number, fmt + '\t' + coord_formats_desc[number])
     coord_format.set_help(_("Select the format to display coordinates"))
     menu.add_option(category, "coord_format", coord_format)
     return coord_format
diff --git a/gramps/gen/utils/place.py b/gramps/gen/utils/place.py
index 82622f22b..df8e39f04 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/utils/place.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/utils/place.py
@@ -98,6 +98,13 @@ coord_formats = (
     # 'ISO-DMS'   ISO 6709 degree, minutes, seconds notation
     )
 
+coord_formats_desc = (
+    _("Degree, minutes, seconds notation"),
+    _("Degree, minutes, seconds notation with :"),
+    _("Degree notation, 4 decimals"),
+    _("Degree notation, 8 decimals (precision like ISO-DMS)"),
+    _("Output format for the Swedish coordinate system RT90"),
+    )
 
 #------------------
 #
diff --git a/gramps/gui/configure.py b/gramps/gui/configure.py
index 0405700d1..8d45c8bc2 100644
--- a/gramps/gui/configure.py
+++ b/gramps/gui/configure.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ from gramps.gen.display.name import NameDisplayError
 from gramps.gen.display.place import displayer as _pd
 from gramps.gen.utils.alive import update_constants
 from gramps.gen.utils.file import media_path
-from gramps.gen.utils.place import coord_formats
+from gramps.gen.utils.place import coord_formats, coord_formats_desc
 from gramps.gen.utils.keyword import (get_keywords, get_translations,
                                       get_translation_from_keyword,
                                       get_keyword_from_translation)
@@ -1145,8 +1145,8 @@ class GrampsPreferences(ConfigureDialog):
         Called to rebuild the coordinates format list.
         """
         model = Gtk.ListStore(str)
-        for fmt in coord_formats:
-            model.append([fmt])
+        for number, fmt in enumerate(coord_formats):
+            model.append([fmt + '\t' + coord_formats_desc[number]])
         self.cformat.set_model(model)
         self.cformat.set_active(0)
 
@@ -1244,8 +1244,6 @@ class GrampsPreferences(ConfigureDialog):
         self.cformat.pack_start(renderer, True)
         self.cformat.add_attribute(renderer, "text", 0)
         self.cb_coord_fmt_rebuild()
-        if not config.is_set('preferences.coord-format'):
-            config.register('preferences.coord-format', 0)
         active = config.get('preferences.coord-format')
         self.cformat.set_active(active)
         self.cformat.connect('changed', self.cb_coord_fmt_changed)