diff --git a/gdm-2.20.0-fix-default-language.patch b/gdm-2.20.0-fix-default-language.patch
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9aef2b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gdm-2.20.0-fix-default-language.patch
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+--- gdm-2.20.0/daemon/gdm-daemon-config.c	2007-09-19 16:40:33.000000000 -0600
++++ gdm-2.20.0/daemon/gdm-daemon-config.c	2007-09-19 16:17:30.000000000 -0600
+@@ -2846,10 +2846,20 @@
+ 	gchar *cfgstr;
+ 
+ 	cfgstr = g_build_filename (home_dir, ".dmrc", NULL);
+-
+ 	dmrc = gdm_common_config_load (cfgstr, NULL);
+ 	if (dmrc == NULL) {
+-		return;
++                gint fd = -1;
++		gdm_debug ("file: %s does not exist - creating it", cfgstr);
++		VE_IGNORE_EINTR (fd = g_open (cfgstr, O_CREAT | O_TRUNC | O_RDWR, 0644));
++		if (fd < 0) return;
++		write (fd, "\n", 2);
++		close (fd);
++                dmrc = gdm_common_config_load (cfgstr, NULL);
++                if (dmrc == NULL) {
++			gdm_debug ("failed to open %s after creating it", cfgstr);
++			return;
++		} 
++
+ 	}
+ 
+ 	if (savesess) {
diff --git a/gdm.spec b/gdm.spec
index d42def8..f462f3a 100644
--- a/gdm.spec
+++ b/gdm.spec
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 Summary: The GNOME Display Manager
 Name: gdm
 Version: 2.20.0
-Release: 9%{?dist}
+Release: 10%{?dist}
 Epoch: 1
 License: GPLv2+
 Group: User Interface/X
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ Patch38: hang.patch
 # http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=473480
 Patch39: gdm-2.20.0-fix-savedie.patch
 
+# http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=453916
+Patch40: gdm-2.20.0-fix-default-language.patch
+
 Patch100: gdm-2.20.0-change-defaults.patch
 Patch101: stupid-bullets.patch
 
@@ -148,6 +151,7 @@ Extra icons / faces for the GNOME Display Manager.
 %patch37 -p1 -b .selinux
 %patch38 -p1 -b .hang
 %patch39 -p1 -b .fix-savedie
+%patch40 -p1 -b .fix-default-language
 
 %patch100 -p1 -b .change-defaults
 %patch101 -p1 -b .stupid-bullets
@@ -361,6 +365,11 @@ fi
 %{_datadir}/pixmaps/faces/extras/*.jpg
 
 %changelog
+* Mon Oct  1 2007 Ray Strode <rstrode@redhat.com> - 1:2.20.0-10
+- apply upstream patch from Brady Anderson <brady.anderson@gmail.com>
+  to fix writing out .dmrc file when setting default language 
+  (upstream bug 453916)
+
 * Fri Sep 28 2007 Ray Strode <rstrode@redhat.com> - 1:2.20.0-9
 - drop redhat-artwork dep, add fedorainfinity-gdm-theme dep