diff --git a/ckan/lib/app_globals.py b/ckan/lib/app_globals.py
index d89a0a65839..7516132cb1f 100644
--- a/ckan/lib/app_globals.py
+++ b/ckan/lib/app_globals.py
@@ -83,12 +83,6 @@ def set_main_css(css_file):
     # FIXME we should check the css file exists
     app_globals.main_css = str(new_css)
 
-def set_rtl_globals(rtl_css_file, rtl_languages):
-    assert rtl_css_file.endswith('.css')
-    new_css = rtl_css_file
-    # FIXME we should check the css file exists
-    app_globals.rtl_css = str(new_css)
-    app_globals.rtl_languages = rtl_languages
 
 def set_app_global(key, value):
     '''
@@ -181,10 +175,6 @@ def get_config_value(key, default=''):
     main_css = get_config_value('ckan.main_css', '/base/css/main.css')
     set_main_css(main_css)
 
-    rtl_css_file = get_config_value('ckan.i18n.rtl_css', '/base/css/rtl.css')
-    rtl_languages = get_config_value('ckan.i18n.rtl_languages', 'he ar')
-    set_rtl_globals(rtl_css_file, rtl_languages)
-
     if app_globals.site_logo:
         app_globals.header_class = 'header-image'
     elif not app_globals.site_description:
diff --git a/ckan/lib/helpers.py b/ckan/lib/helpers.py
index 6152fde36a0..e6afa459814 100644
--- a/ckan/lib/helpers.py
+++ b/ckan/lib/helpers.py
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ def ckan_version():
 
 @core_helper
 def lang_native_name(lang=None):
-    ''' Return the langage name currently used in it's localised form
+    ''' Return the language name currently used in it's localised form
         either from parameter or current environ setting'''
     lang = lang or lang()
     locale = i18n.get_locales_dict().get(lang)
@@ -587,6 +587,16 @@ def lang_native_name(lang=None):
     return lang
 
 
+@core_helper
+def is_rtl_language():
+    return lang() in config.get('ckan.i18n.rtl_languages', ['he', 'ar'])
+
+
+@core_helper
+def get_rtl_css():
+    return config.get('ckan.i18n.rtl_css', '/base/css/rtl.css')
+
+
 class Message(object):
     '''A message returned by ``Flash.pop_messages()``.
 
diff --git a/ckan/templates/base.html b/ckan/templates/base.html
index 84dfc256fe9..0992ff6b1fa 100644
--- a/ckan/templates/base.html
+++ b/ckan/templates/base.html
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@
     #}
     {%- block styles %}
       {% resource g.main_css[6:] %}
-      {% if h.lang() in g.rtl_languages %}
-        {% resource g.rtl_css[6:] %}
+      {% if h.is_rtl_language() %}
+        {% resource h.get_rtl_css()[6:] %}
       {% endif %}
     {% endblock %}