diff --git a/src/jarvis/reply/engine.py b/src/jarvis/reply/engine.py
index 48098b8..2052bae 100644
--- a/src/jarvis/reply/engine.py
+++ b/src/jarvis/reply/engine.py
@@ -1696,8 +1696,10 @@ def run_reply_engine(db: "Database", cfg, tts: Optional[Any],
         # Placed at the FRONT (after the persona header) so a small model gives
         # it primacy over the persona's "use the user's language" lines — a tail
         # instruction loses to those when the query itself is in another language.
+        # Settings-UI value (config) wins over the compose OUTPUT_LANGUAGE env so
+        # changing the language in the settings page actually takes effect.
         _lang_directive = reply_language_directive(
-            os.environ.get("OUTPUT_LANGUAGE") or _extra_config("output_language", ""),
+            _extra_config("output_language", "") or os.environ.get("OUTPUT_LANGUAGE"),
             getattr(cfg, "tts_engine", "piper"),
         )
         if _lang_directive: