diff --git a/etemplate/inc/class.etemplate_widget_nextmatch.inc.php b/etemplate/inc/class.etemplate_widget_nextmatch.inc.php
index f92102d4a2..5dde80c4bd 100644
--- a/etemplate/inc/class.etemplate_widget_nextmatch.inc.php
+++ b/etemplate/inc/class.etemplate_widget_nextmatch.inc.php
@@ -1056,19 +1056,25 @@ class etemplate_widget_nextmatch extends etemplate_widget
 			{
 				$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->delete($app,$pref_name,'forced');
 				$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->delete($app,$refresh_pref_name,'forced');
+				$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->delete($app,$pref_name.'-size','forced');
+				$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->delete($app,$pref_name.'-lettersearch','forced');
 				$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->save_repository(true,'forced');
 			}
 
 			// Set columns + refresh as default for all users
 			// Columns included in submit, preference might not be updated yet
 			$cols = $value['selectcols'];
-			$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->read();
+			$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->read_repository(true);
 			$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->add($app,$pref_name,is_array($cols) ? implode(',',$cols) : $cols, $pref_level);
 
 			// Autorefresh
 			$refresh = $value['nm_autorefresh'];
 			$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->add($app,$refresh_pref_name,(int)$refresh,$pref_level);
 
+			// Lettersearch
+			$lettersearch = is_array($cols) && in_array('lettersearch', $cols);
+			$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->add($app,$pref_name.'-lettersearch',(int)$lettersearch,$pref_level);
+
 			$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->save_repository(true,$pref_level);
 			$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->read(true);
 
@@ -1077,6 +1083,7 @@ class etemplate_widget_nextmatch extends etemplate_widget
 				// Clear column + refresh preference so users go back to default
 				$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->delete_preference($app,$pref_name);
 				$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->delete_preference($app,$pref_name.'-size');
+				$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->delete_preference($app,$pref_name.'-lettersearch');
 				$GLOBALS['egw']->preferences->delete_preference($app,$refresh_pref_name);
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/etemplate/js/et2_extension_nextmatch.js b/etemplate/js/et2_extension_nextmatch.js
index a7a2b2a6a3..7c214ceeb9 100644
--- a/etemplate/js/et2_extension_nextmatch.js
+++ b/etemplate/js/et2_extension_nextmatch.js
@@ -1379,6 +1379,10 @@ var et2_nextmatch = et2_DOMWidget.extend([et2_IResizeable, et2_IInput, et2_IPrin
 				// Set default or clear forced?
 				if(defaultCheck.get_value())
 				{
+					if(show_letters)
+					{
+						self.activeFilters.selectcols.push('lettersearch');
+					}
 					self.getInstanceManager().submit();
 				}
 				self.selectPopup = null;