diff --git a/dikte/app.py b/dikte/app.py
index d82cc7c..5bf335b 100644
--- a/dikte/app.py
+++ b/dikte/app.py
@@ -1103,15 +1103,20 @@ class Dikte:
 
     def open_settings(self):
         if self.settings_window is None:
-            self.settings_window = SettingsWindow(self.conf, self.meetings)
-            self.settings_window.applied.connect(self._apply_settings)
-            self.settings_window.language_changed.connect(self._reopen_settings)
-            self.settings_window.update_found.connect(self._found_update)
-            self.settings_window.finished.connect(self._settings_closed)
+            self._make_settings()
         self.settings_window.show()
         self.settings_window.raise_()
         self.settings_window.activateWindow()
 
+    def _make_settings(self):
+        """Build the window without showing it, so a caller that knows where
+        it belongs can place it first."""
+        self.settings_window = SettingsWindow(self.conf, self.meetings)
+        self.settings_window.applied.connect(self._apply_settings)
+        self.settings_window.language_changed.connect(self._reopen_settings)
+        self.settings_window.update_found.connect(self._found_update)
+        self.settings_window.finished.connect(self._settings_closed)
+
     def _settings_closed(self, *_):
         # Don't drop the object while its own signal is still being delivered.
         QTimer.singleShot(0, lambda: setattr(self, "settings_window", None))
@@ -1135,11 +1140,19 @@ class Dikte:
         # would drop the reference to the new window a moment after it is made.
         old.finished.disconnect(self._settings_closed)
         old.close()
-        old.deleteLater()
+        # No deleteLater: a daemon thread of the old window's may still be
+        # running, and a closure holding self is what keeps the object alive
+        # until the thread is done. Dropping the reference is how the ordinary
+        # close path lets a window go, and it is enough here too.
         self.settings_window = None
-        self.open_settings()
-        self.settings_window.tabs.setCurrentIndex(tab)
+        self._make_settings()
+        # Placed and turned to the old tab before it is shown, so the new
+        # window does not come up at the default size and jump.
         self.settings_window.setGeometry(geometry)
+        self.settings_window.tabs.setCurrentIndex(tab)
+        self.settings_window.show()
+        self.settings_window.raise_()
+        self.settings_window.activateWindow()
 
     def _apply_local(self):
         """Pass the local settings on, and hold the models ready if asked to.
diff --git a/dikte/settings_ui.py b/dikte/settings_ui.py
index 276efb0..f166140 100644
--- a/dikte/settings_ui.py
+++ b/dikte/settings_ui.py
@@ -1804,9 +1804,22 @@ class SettingsWindow(QDialog):
         # waits until the box is dismissed, so the window is not pulled out
         # from under a dialog it is holding up.
         QMessageBox.information(self, t("Dikte Settings"), t("Saved successfully."))
-        if i18n.language() != self._built_language:
+        if i18n.language() != self._built_language and not self._work_in_flight():
             self.language_changed.emit()
 
+    def _work_in_flight(self):
+        """A daemon thread of this window's is still running.
+
+        Replacing the window now would let it be collected, taking the C++
+        side of the model boxes down with it, and the thread's next progress
+        report would land on a deleted object. The stale labels stand until a
+        later save finds the window quiet; _built_language keeps the old
+        language, so that save asks for the rebuild by itself.
+        """
+        return (self.transcriber.busy
+                or self.local_whisper._downloading
+                or self.local_llm._downloading)
+
     @staticmethod
     def _select_data(combo, value):
         index = combo.findData(value)
diff --git a/tests/test_ui.py b/tests/test_ui.py
index 867e040..060686a 100644
--- a/tests/test_ui.py
+++ b/tests/test_ui.py
@@ -240,6 +240,21 @@ class Settings(DikteTest):
             with self.subTest(key=key):
                 self.assertEqual(stored[key], value)
 
+    def test_only_a_save_that_changed_the_language_says_so(self):
+        # The owner answers language_changed by replacing the window, so a
+        # save that left the language alone must keep quiet.
+        i18n = settings_ui.i18n
+        self.addCleanup(i18n.set_language, i18n.language())
+        window = self.window(cfg.Config())
+        heard = []
+        window.language_changed.connect(lambda: heard.append(True))
+        window._save()
+        self.assertEqual(heard, [])
+        other = "en" if i18n.language() == "tr" else "tr"
+        window._select_data(window.ui_language, other)
+        window._save()
+        self.assertEqual(heard, [True])
+
     def test_the_model_box_on_screen_belongs_to_whoever_cleans_up(self):
         """An OpenRouter id and a Claude alias are not the same field."""
         window = self.window(cfg.Config())