diff --git a/src/org/infinity/gui/StringEditor.java b/src/org/infinity/gui/StringEditor.java
index 469209310..4d9a38c10 100644
--- a/src/org/infinity/gui/StringEditor.java
+++ b/src/org/infinity/gui/StringEditor.java
@@ -818,7 +818,8 @@ protected Void doInBackground() throws Exception {
             WindowBlocker blocker = new WindowBlocker(StringEditor.this);
             try {
               blocker.setBlocked(true);
-              showEntry(addEntry(new StringTable.StringEntry(null), new StringTable.StringEntry(null), true));
+              showEntry(addEntry(new StringTable.StringEntry(null, StringTable.FLAGS_DEFAULT),
+                  new StringTable.StringEntry(null, StringTable.FLAGS_DEFAULT), true));
             } finally {
               blocker.setBlocked(false);
             }
diff --git a/src/org/infinity/util/StringTable.java b/src/org/infinity/util/StringTable.java
index 78398a00a..cf50767f3 100644
--- a/src/org/infinity/util/StringTable.java
+++ b/src/org/infinity/util/StringTable.java
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public String format(String text, int strRef) {
   /** String entry flag: Available tokens will be resolved */
   public static final short FLAGS_HAS_TOKEN = 0x04;
   /** The default flags value includes all supported bits */
-  public static final short FLAGS_DEFAULT = 0x07;
+  public static final short FLAGS_DEFAULT = FLAGS_HAS_TEXT | FLAGS_HAS_SOUND | FLAGS_HAS_TOKEN;
 
   /** Strref start index for virtual strings referenced by ENGINEST.2DA (EE only) */
   public static final int STRREF_VIRTUAL = 0xf00000;
@@ -1467,6 +1467,10 @@ public StringEntry(StringTable parent) {
       resetModified();
     }
 
+    public StringEntry(StringTable parent, short flags) {
+      this(parent, flags, "", 0, 0, "");
+    }
+
     public StringEntry(StringTable parent, short flags, String soundRef, int volume, int pitch, String text) {
       super(null, null, 0, 4);
       this.parent = parent;