diff --git a/Src/xWorks/DictionaryDetailsView/SenseOptionsView.cs b/Src/xWorks/DictionaryDetailsView/SenseOptionsView.cs
index 3a9300c717..0b5803838a 100644
--- a/Src/xWorks/DictionaryDetailsView/SenseOptionsView.cs
+++ b/Src/xWorks/DictionaryDetailsView/SenseOptionsView.cs
@@ -66,8 +66,12 @@ public string NumberingStyle
 		{
 			get
 			{
-				// Return null if string is empty, because returning an empty string for reversal numbers
-				// also forces sense numbers not to be displayed. Null doesn't cause the same problem.
+				// Handles NumberingStyle for the dictionary/reversal configuration dialog preview display.
+				// Both empty string and null mean there is no numbering style to use.
+				// Numbering style will be null if no numbering style has ever been selected.
+				// Numbering style will be an empty string if a numbering style was selected at some point and then turned back off.
+				// Returning an empty string for reversal numbering style forces sense numbers to be turned off too, but null doesn't cause this problem.
+				// Return null if numbering style is empty.
 				var formatString = ((NumberingStyleComboItem)dropDownNumberingStyle.SelectedItem).FormatString;
 				return string.IsNullOrEmpty(formatString) ? null : formatString;
 			}
diff --git a/Src/xWorks/DictionaryNodeOptions.cs b/Src/xWorks/DictionaryNodeOptions.cs
index 209d8768a6..58a6322030 100644
--- a/Src/xWorks/DictionaryNodeOptions.cs
+++ b/Src/xWorks/DictionaryNodeOptions.cs
@@ -56,7 +56,22 @@ public class DictionaryNodeSenseOptions : DictionaryNodeOptions
 
 		// Example values: ""->none; %O->1.2.3; %d->1, 2, 3
 		[XmlAttribute(AttributeName = "numberingStyle")]
-		public string NumberingStyle { get; set; }
+		private string _numberingStyle;
+
+		public string NumberingStyle
+		{
+			get
+			{
+				// Handles NumberingStyle for the dictionary and reversal displays.
+				// Both empty string and null mean there is no numbering style to use.
+				// Numbering style will be null if no numbering style has ever been selected.
+				// Numbering style will be an empty string if a numbering style was selected at some point and then turned back off.
+				// Returning an empty string for reversal numbering style forces sense numbers to be turned off too, but null doesn't cause this problem.
+				// Return null if numbering style is empty.
+				return string.IsNullOrEmpty(_numberingStyle)? null : _numberingStyle;
+			}
+			set { _numberingStyle = value; }
+		}
 
 		// Example values: ""->none; %j->Joined; %.->Separated by dot
 		[XmlAttribute(AttributeName = "parentSenseNumberingStyle")]