diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/textstyles.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/textstyles.rs
index 4987c479f..a44dd1773 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/textstyles.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/textstyles.rs
@@ -475,8 +475,9 @@ fn name_param<'a>(p: &'a Value, kind: Kind, verb: &str) -> Result<&'a str> {
     str_param(p, "name").ok_or_else(|| bad(&kind.cmd(verb), "missing `name`"))
 }
 
-/// The `attrs` of `p`, validated. `kept` holds the style's current attributes (`charStyle.edit`):
-/// a language tag that is not in the list, which a file can give a style, stays when `attrs` keeps it.
+/// The `attrs` of `p`, validated. `kept` holds the style's current attributes (`charStyle.edit`) or
+/// the target text's attributes (`charStyle.new`): a language tag that is not in the list, which a
+/// file can give a style or a run, stays when `attrs` keeps it.
 fn attrs_param(p: &Value, kind: Kind, verb: &str, kept: Option<&Map<String, Value>>) -> Result<Option<Map<String, Value>>> {
     match p.get("attrs") {
         None | Some(Value::Null) => Ok(None),
@@ -536,9 +537,10 @@ fn list(s: &mut Session, kind: Kind) -> Result<Value> {
 
 fn new(s: &mut Session, p: &Value, kind: Kind) -> Result<Value> {
     let c = kind.cmd("new");
-    let attrs = match attrs_param(p, kind, "new", None)? {
+    let target = selection_attrs(s, p, kind)?;
+    let attrs = match attrs_param(p, kind, "new", target.as_ref())? {
         Some(a) => a,
-        None => match selection_attrs(s, p, kind)? {
+        None => match target {
             Some(a) => a,
             None => {
                 let a = new_style_attrs(s, kind);
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/textstyles/tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/textstyles/tests.rs
index bb37dd877..d7021efda 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/textstyles/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/textstyles/tests.rs
@@ -245,6 +245,18 @@ fn character_style_options_edit_keeps_a_language_tag_from_a_file() {
     assert!(error.contains("unknown language"), "{error}");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn new_character_style_keeps_a_language_tag_from_the_text() {
+    let (mut s, id) = session_with_text("Text");
+    if let Some(NodeKind::Text(t)) = std::sync::Arc::make_mut(&mut s.doc_mut().unwrap().doc).node_mut(NodeId(id)).map(|n| &mut n.kind) {
+        t.runs[0].style.language = Some("x-file".into());
+    }
+    s.execute("charStyle.new", &json!({"name":"Body","id":id,"attrs":{"size":18.0,"language":"x-file"}})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().doc.char_styles.iter().find(|d| d.name == "Body").unwrap().attrs["language"], json!("x-file"));
+    let error = s.execute("charStyle.new", &json!({"name":"Other","id":id,"attrs":{"language":"x-other"}})).unwrap_err().to_string();
+    assert!(error.contains("unknown language"), "{error}");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn editing_character_style_clears_removed_size_without_losing_local_override() {
     let (mut s, id) = session_with_text("One two");