diff --git a/ui-diff.c b/ui-diff.c
index af24a6c..c6bad63 100644
--- a/ui-diff.c
+++ b/ui-diff.c
@@ -341,9 +341,7 @@ void cgit_print_diff_ctrls()
 	html("<td class='label'>mode:</td>");
 	html("<td class='ctrl'>");
 	html("<select name='ss' onchange='this.form.submit();'>");
-	curr = ctx.qry.ssdiff;
-	if (!curr && ctx.cfg.ssdiff)
-		curr = 1;
+	curr = ctx.qry.has_ssdiff ? ctx.qry.ssdiff : ctx.cfg.ssdiff;
 	html_intoption(0, "unified", curr);
 	html_intoption(1, "ssdiff", curr);
 	html("</select></td></tr>");