diff --git a/resources/modules/ve-cm/ve.ui.CodeMirrorAction.js b/resources/modules/ve-cm/ve.ui.CodeMirrorAction.js
index 5b3d99de..3170a54a 100644
--- a/resources/modules/ve-cm/ve.ui.CodeMirrorAction.js
+++ b/resources/modules/ve-cm/ve.ui.CodeMirrorAction.js
@@ -278,6 +278,10 @@ ve.ui.CodeMirrorAction.prototype.getPosFromOffset = function ( veOffset ) {
 /* Registration */
 
 // eslint-disable-next-line no-jquery/no-global-selector
-if ( $( '.mw-body-content .mw-parser-output' ).attr( 'dir' ) === 'ltr' ) {
+var contentDir = $( '.mw-body-content .mw-parser-output' ).attr( 'dir' ) ||
+	// New pages will use wgPageContentLanguage which is set on the html element.
+	document.documentElement.dir;
+
+if ( contentDir === 'ltr' ) {
 	ve.ui.actionFactory.register( ve.ui.CodeMirrorAction );
 }
diff --git a/resources/modules/ve-cm/ve.ui.CodeMirrorTool.js b/resources/modules/ve-cm/ve.ui.CodeMirrorTool.js
index ea23c29d..f3e42b18 100644
--- a/resources/modules/ve-cm/ve.ui.CodeMirrorTool.js
+++ b/resources/modules/ve-cm/ve.ui.CodeMirrorTool.js
@@ -83,13 +83,15 @@ ve.ui.CodeMirrorTool.prototype.onSurfaceChange = function ( oldSurface, newSurfa
 ve.ui.CodeMirrorTool.prototype.onUpdateState = function () {};
 
 // eslint-disable-next-line no-jquery/no-global-selector
-if ( $( '.mw-body-content .mw-parser-output' ).attr( 'dir' ) === 'ltr' ) {
-	/* Registration */
+var contentDir = $( '.mw-body-content .mw-parser-output' ).attr( 'dir' ) ||
+	// New pages will use wgPageContentLanguage which is set on the html element.
+	document.documentElement.dir;
 
+if ( contentDir === 'ltr' ) {
+	/* Registration */
 	ve.ui.toolFactory.register( ve.ui.CodeMirrorTool );
 
 	/* Command */
-
 	ve.ui.commandRegistry.register(
 		new ve.ui.Command(
 			'codeMirror', 'codeMirror', 'toggle'