diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/LoginBean.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/LoginBean.java
index fa6efb3c2b..98bf59f141 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/LoginBean.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/LoginBean.java
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ public class LoginBean implements Serializable
                // note: to enable MT runtime client config customization, need to re-init NavigationBean
                // in context of tenant login page
                this.navigator.initFromClientConfig();
-                 
+               
                if (NavigationBean.LOCATION_MYALFRESCO.equals(this.preferences.getStartLocation()))
                {
                   return "myalfresco";
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/repository/User.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/repository/User.java
index fcdb9332be..685d2d87c2 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/repository/User.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/repository/User.java
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ public final class User implements SessionUser
       }
       return this.preferences;
    }
-   
+    
    /**
     * Get or create the node used to store user preferences.
     * Utilises the 'configurable' aspect on the Person linked to this user.
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ public final class User implements SessionUser
                 }
                 return prefRef;
             }
-        });
+        }, txService.isReadOnly());
     }
    
    /**
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/users/UserPreferencesBean.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/users/UserPreferencesBean.java
index 07eb7ee908..60faf7c403 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/users/UserPreferencesBean.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/users/UserPreferencesBean.java
@@ -26,9 +26,8 @@ import java.util.ResourceBundle;
 
 import javax.faces.context.FacesContext;
 import javax.faces.model.SelectItem;
+import javax.transaction.UserTransaction;
 
-import org.springframework.extensions.config.Config;
-import org.springframework.extensions.surf.util.I18NUtil;
 import org.alfresco.service.cmr.ml.ContentFilterLanguagesService;
 import org.alfresco.service.cmr.ml.MultilingualContentService;
 import org.alfresco.service.cmr.repository.NodeRef;
@@ -40,6 +39,8 @@ import org.alfresco.web.bean.NavigationBean;
 import org.alfresco.web.bean.repository.PreferencesService;
 import org.alfresco.web.bean.repository.Repository;
 import org.alfresco.web.config.LanguagesConfigElement;
+import org.springframework.extensions.config.Config;
+import org.springframework.extensions.surf.util.I18NUtil;
 
 /**
  * Simple bean backing the user preferences settings.
@@ -113,7 +114,23 @@ public class UserPreferencesBean implements Serializable
    {
       if (this.contentFilterLanguage == null)
       {
-         Locale locale = (Locale) PreferencesService.getPreferences().getValue(PREF_CONTENTFILTERLANGUAGE);
+         Locale locale = null;
+         UserTransaction tx = null;
+         try
+         {
+            FacesContext context = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance();
+            tx = Repository.getUserTransaction(context, true);
+            tx.begin();
+            
+            locale = (Locale) PreferencesService.getPreferences().getValue(PREF_CONTENTFILTERLANGUAGE);
+            
+            tx.commit();
+         }
+         catch (Throwable err)
+         {
+            try { if (tx != null) {tx.rollback();} } catch (Exception tex) {}
+         }
+         
          // Null means All Languages
          if (locale == null)
          {
@@ -260,7 +277,22 @@ public class UserPreferencesBean implements Serializable
     */
    public String getStartLocation()
    {
-      String location = (String)PreferencesService.getPreferences().getValue(PREF_STARTLOCATION);
+      String location = null;
+      UserTransaction tx = null;
+      try
+      {
+         FacesContext context = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance();
+         tx = Repository.getUserTransaction(context, true);
+         tx.begin();
+         
+         location = (String)PreferencesService.getPreferences().getValue(PREF_STARTLOCATION);
+         
+         tx.commit();
+      }
+      catch (Throwable err)
+      {
+          try { if (tx != null) {tx.rollback();} } catch (Exception tex) {}
+      }
       if (location == null)
       {
          // default to value from client config