diff --git a/classes/book.lua b/classes/book.lua
index 20a0290d24..f301b037dc 100644
--- a/classes/book.lua
+++ b/classes/book.lua
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ function class:registerCommands ()
     SILE.call("nofoliothispage")
     -- English typography (notably) expects the first paragraph under a section
     -- not to be indented. Frenchies, don't use this class :)
-    SILE.call("noindent")
+    if lang == "en" then SILE.call("noindent") end
   end, "Begin a new chapter")
 
   self:registerCommand("section", function (options, content)
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ function class:registerCommands ()
     SILE.call("novbreak")
     -- English typography (notably) expects the first paragraph under a section
     -- not to be indented. Frenchies, don't use this class :)
-    SILE.call("noindent")
+    if lang == "en" then SILE.call("noindent") end
     SILE.typesetter:inhibitLeading()
   end, "Begin a new section")
 
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ function class:registerCommands ()
     SILE.call("novbreak")
     -- English typography (notably) expects the first paragraph under a section
     -- not to be indented. Frenchies, don't use this class :)
-    SILE.call("noindent")
+    if lang == "en" then SILE.call("noindent") end
     SILE.typesetter:inhibitLeading()
   end, "Begin a new subsection")