diff --git a/sub/dec_sub.c b/sub/dec_sub.c
index 3e32c86e02cfb..17a32c7f8ef20 100644
--- a/sub/dec_sub.c
+++ b/sub/dec_sub.c
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ struct dec_sub {
 
     struct mp_codec_params *codec;
     double start, end;
+    char *lang;
 
     double last_vo_pts;
     struct sd *sd;
@@ -171,6 +172,7 @@ static struct sd *init_decoder(struct dec_sub *sub)
             .order = sub->order,
             .attachments = sub->attachments,
             .codec = sub->codec,
+            .lang = sub->lang,
             .preload_ok = true,
         };
 
@@ -204,6 +206,7 @@ struct dec_sub *sub_create(struct mpv_global *global, struct track *track,
         .shared_opts_cache = m_config_cache_alloc(sub, global, &mp_subtitle_shared_sub_opts),
         .sh = track->stream,
         .codec = track->stream->codec,
+        .lang = track->lang,
         .attachments = talloc_steal(sub, attachments),
         .play_dir = 1,
         .order = order,
diff --git a/sub/sd.h b/sub/sd.h
index 8db7c41dd8dae..ccd472f9de959 100644
--- a/sub/sd.h
+++ b/sub/sd.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ struct sd {
 
     struct attachment_list *attachments;
     struct mp_codec_params *codec;
+    const char *lang;
 
     // Set to false as soon as the decoder discards old subtitle events.
     // (only needed if sd_functions.accept_packets_in_advance == false)
diff --git a/sub/sd_sbr.c b/sub/sd_sbr.c
index 58dce3b493288..3d7f595062480 100644
--- a/sub/sd_sbr.c
+++ b/sub/sd_sbr.c
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ static void decode(struct sd *sd, struct demux_packet *packet)
         packet->buffer,
         packet->len,
         fmt,
-        NULL
+        sd->lang
     );
 
     // Since `demux_sbr` only ever sends us one packet,