diff --git a/src/modules/addressbook/e-book-shell-view-private.c b/src/modules/addressbook/e-book-shell-view-private.c
index f5ebfaea41..3de15e2598 100644
--- a/src/modules/addressbook/e-book-shell-view-private.c
+++ b/src/modules/addressbook/e-book-shell-view-private.c
@@ -625,7 +625,9 @@ e_book_shell_view_private_constructed (EBookShellView *book_shell_view)
 		book_shell_view->priv->book_shell_content, "preview-visible",
 		G_BINDING_SYNC_CREATE);
 
-	action = ACTION (CONTACT_VIEW_VERTICAL);
+	/* use the "classic" action, because it's the first in the group and
+	   the group is not set yet, due to the UI manager being frozen */
+	action = ACTION (CONTACT_VIEW_CLASSIC);
 
 	g_settings_bind_with_mapping (
 		settings, "layout",
diff --git a/src/modules/calendar/e-cal-shell-view-private.c b/src/modules/calendar/e-cal-shell-view-private.c
index 9be5585c59..0d4ce40dd4 100644
--- a/src/modules/calendar/e-cal-shell-view-private.c
+++ b/src/modules/calendar/e-cal-shell-view-private.c
@@ -593,7 +593,9 @@ e_cal_shell_view_private_constructed (ECalShellView *cal_shell_view)
 		priv->views[E_CAL_VIEW_KIND_YEAR].calendar_view, "preview-visible",
 		G_BINDING_SYNC_CREATE);
 
-	action = ACTION (CALENDAR_PREVIEW_VERTICAL);
+	/* use the "horizontal" action, because it's the first in the group and
+	   the group is not set yet, due to the UI manager being frozen */
+	action = ACTION (CALENDAR_PREVIEW_HORIZONTAL);
 
 	g_settings_bind_with_mapping (
 		settings, "year-layout",
diff --git a/src/modules/calendar/e-memo-shell-view-private.c b/src/modules/calendar/e-memo-shell-view-private.c
index 6414286f29..f50260c72c 100644
--- a/src/modules/calendar/e-memo-shell-view-private.c
+++ b/src/modules/calendar/e-memo-shell-view-private.c
@@ -277,7 +277,9 @@ e_memo_shell_view_private_constructed (EMemoShellView *memo_shell_view)
 		priv->memo_shell_content, "preview-visible",
 		G_BINDING_SYNC_CREATE);
 
-	action = ACTION (MEMO_VIEW_VERTICAL);
+	/* use the "classic" action, because it's the first in the group and
+	   the group is not set yet, due to the UI manager being frozen */
+	action = ACTION (MEMO_VIEW_CLASSIC);
 
 	g_settings_bind_with_mapping (
 		settings, "memo-layout",
diff --git a/src/modules/calendar/e-task-shell-view-private.c b/src/modules/calendar/e-task-shell-view-private.c
index 350898edfb..571dfa1d2c 100644
--- a/src/modules/calendar/e-task-shell-view-private.c
+++ b/src/modules/calendar/e-task-shell-view-private.c
@@ -432,11 +432,13 @@ e_task_shell_view_private_constructed (ETaskShellView *task_shell_view)
 		priv->task_shell_content, "preview-visible",
 		G_BINDING_SYNC_CREATE);
 
-	action = ACTION (TASK_VIEW_VERTICAL);
+	/* use the "classic" action, because it's the first in the group and
+	   the group is not set yet, due to the UI manager being frozen */
+	action = ACTION (TASK_VIEW_CLASSIC);
 
 	g_settings_bind_with_mapping (
 		settings, "task-layout",
-		ACTION (TASK_VIEW_VERTICAL), "state",
+		action, "state",
 		G_SETTINGS_BIND_DEFAULT | G_SETTINGS_BIND_NO_SENSITIVITY,
 		e_shell_view_util_layout_to_state_cb,
 		e_shell_view_util_state_to_layout_cb, NULL, NULL);
diff --git a/src/modules/mail/e-mail-shell-view-private.c b/src/modules/mail/e-mail-shell-view-private.c
index 8c978eefb1..892697ebab 100644
--- a/src/modules/mail/e-mail-shell-view-private.c
+++ b/src/modules/mail/e-mail-shell-view-private.c
@@ -638,7 +638,9 @@ e_mail_shell_view_private_constructed (EMailShellView *mail_shell_view)
 		ACTION (MAIL_SHOW_PREVIEW_TOOLBAR), "active",
 		G_SETTINGS_BIND_DEFAULT | G_SETTINGS_BIND_NO_SENSITIVITY);
 
-	action = ACTION (MAIL_VIEW_VERTICAL);
+	/* use the "classic" action, because it's the first in the group and
+	   the group is not set yet, due to the UI manager being frozen */
+	action = ACTION (MAIL_VIEW_CLASSIC);
 
 	g_settings_bind_with_mapping (
 		settings, "layout",