diff --git a/zathura/shortcuts.c b/zathura/shortcuts.c
index 693235e..5bf275f 100644
--- a/zathura/shortcuts.c
+++ b/zathura/shortcuts.c
@@ -1286,7 +1286,7 @@ sc_toggle_presentation(girara_session_t* session, girara_argument_t*
   }
 
   static int pages_per_row = 1;
-  static char* first_page_column_list = "1:2";
+  static char* first_page_column_list = NULL;
   static double zoom = 1.0;
 
   const girara_mode_t old_mode = girara_mode_get(session);
@@ -1295,7 +1295,9 @@ sc_toggle_presentation(girara_session_t* session, girara_argument_t*
     girara_setting_set(session, "pages-per-row", &pages_per_row);
 
     /* reset first page column */
-    girara_setting_set(session, "first-page-column", first_page_column_list);
+    if (first_page_column_list != NULL) {
+      girara_setting_set(session, "first-page-column", first_page_column_list);
+    }
 
     /* show status bar */
     gtk_widget_show(GTK_WIDGET(session->gtk.statusbar));
@@ -1316,6 +1318,7 @@ sc_toggle_presentation(girara_session_t* session, girara_argument_t*
 
     /* backup first page column */
     g_free(first_page_column_list);
+    /* this will leak. we need to move the values somewhere else */
     girara_setting_get(session, "first-page-column", &first_page_column_list);
 
     /* set single view */