diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/archive/R.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/archive/R.java
index 01fe129b6..65cf1d8f5 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/archive/R.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/archive/R.java
@@ -841,6 +841,8 @@ public final class R {
          substituted for %1$s. 
          */
         public static final int chat_title_fmt=0x7f050170;
+        public static final int checking_for_fmt=0x7f0502f9;
+        public static final int checking_title=0x7f0502f8;
         public static final int checkupdates_none_found=0x7f050225;
         /**  color of the "crosshairs", lines drawn vertically and
          horizontally through the square the user is currently
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
index a3307f91f..b95dff2e6 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -2459,5 +2459,7 @@
   <string name="pref_item_update_title">Update between releases</string>
   <string name="pref_item_update_summary">Get intermediate builds</string>
 
+  <string name="checking_title">Checking</string>
+  <string name="checking_for_fmt">Checking server for %1$s wordlists…</string>
 
 </resources>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res_src/values-ba_CK/strings.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res_src/values-ba_CK/strings.xml
index 7ac392900..14c2931e0 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res_src/values-ba_CK/strings.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res_src/values-ba_CK/strings.xml
@@ -2129,4 +2129,6 @@
   <string name="pref_group_l10n_summary">Sferp detaler ot ppa-ni noitazilacol</string>
   <string name="pref_item_update_title">Etadpu neewteb sesaeler</string>
   <string name="pref_item_update_summary">Teg etaidemretni sdliub</string>
+  <string name="checking_title">Gnikcehc</string>
+  <string name="checking_for_fmt">Gnikcehc revres rof %1$s stsildrow…</string>
 </resources>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res_src/values-ca_PS/strings.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res_src/values-ca_PS/strings.xml
index b2870f28e..d78605d79 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res_src/values-ca_PS/strings.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res_src/values-ca_PS/strings.xml
@@ -2129,4 +2129,6 @@
   <string name="pref_group_l10n_summary">PREFS RELATED TO IN-APP LOCALIZATION</string>
   <string name="pref_item_update_title">UPDATE BETWEEN RELEASES</string>
   <string name="pref_item_update_summary">GET INTERMEDIATE BUILDS</string>
+  <string name="checking_title">CHECKING</string>
+  <string name="checking_for_fmt">CHECKING SERVER FOR %1$s WORDLISTS…</string>
 </resources>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesListDelegate.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesListDelegate.java
index aa94e4fc2..505ba67a6 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesListDelegate.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesListDelegate.java
@@ -584,6 +584,7 @@ public class GamesListDelegate extends ListDelegateBase
     private String m_origTitle;
     private boolean m_nextIsSolo;
     private Button[] m_newGameButtons;
+    private boolean m_haveShownGetDict;
 
     public GamesListDelegate( ListDelegator delegator, Bundle sis )
     {
@@ -1903,8 +1904,11 @@ public class GamesListDelegate extends ListDelegateBase
 
     private void getDictForLangIf()
     { 
-        if ( ! XWPrefs.getPrefsBoolean( m_activity, R.string.key_got_langdict, 
+        if ( ! m_haveShownGetDict && 
+             ! XWPrefs.getPrefsBoolean( m_activity, R.string.key_got_langdict, 
                                         false ) ) {
+            m_haveShownGetDict = true;
+
             String lc = Locale.getDefault().getLanguage();
             if ( !lc.equals("en") ) {
                 int code = LocUtils.codeForLangCode( m_activity, lc );
@@ -1917,14 +1921,15 @@ public class GamesListDelegate extends ListDelegateBase
                                                          true );
                             }
                         };
+
                     OnGotLcDictListener lstnr = new OnGotLcDictListener() {
                             public void gotDictInfo( boolean success, String lang, 
                                                      String name ) {
+                                stopProgress();
                                 if ( success ) {
-                                    String locLang = xlateLang( lang );
                                     String msg = 
                                         getString( R.string.confirm_get_locdict_fmt, 
-                                                   locLang );
+                                                   xlateLang( lang ) );
                                     showConfirmThen( onNA, msg, R.string
                                                      .button_download, 
                                                      Action.DWNLD_LOC_DICT, 
@@ -1932,6 +1937,11 @@ public class GamesListDelegate extends ListDelegateBase
                                 }
                             }
                         };
+
+                    String langName = DictLangCache.getLangName( m_activity, code );
+                    String locLang = xlateLang( langName );
+                    String msg = getString( R.string.checking_for_fmt, locLang );
+                    startProgress( R.string.checking_title, msg );
                     DictsDelegate.downloadDefaultDict( m_activity, lc, lstnr );
                 }
             }